Officials crack down on illegal immigrants since fatal crash
The Virginian-Pilot
© May 23, 2007
Last updated: 11:43 PM


BY TIM McGLONE | THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

NORFOLK — Fede ral agents and local authorities have stepped up their efforts to deport suspected illegal immigrants since police charged a Mexican man, who was in the United States illegally, with causing a double-fatal wreck in March.

A hot line run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has received nearly as many calls from law enforcement in Virginia so far this year as all of last year, according to ICE statistics. And ICE agents are issuing more detainers at some local jails than they have in the past.

On Tuesday in Norfolk General District Court, ICE agents were waiting for three suspected illegal immigrants charged with being drunk in public, a misdemeanor offense.

“They certainly have been more receptive in the last month,â€