Thread: PA: Authorities Crack Down On Illegal Aliens in Montco

Authorities Crack Down On Illegal Aliens in Montco

Apr 11, 2007

by KYW's Brad Segall

Law enforcement authorities in Montgomery County, Pa. have taken more than three dozen illegal aliens off the streets as part of an effort being run by the Department of Homeland Security.

Federal and local agents were looking for specific people with criminal records. They got them and they also got lucky, rounding up 37 people living in the United States illegally.

Montgomery County district attorney Bruce Castor says a surge in illegals moving into the Norristown area has created a number of problems for law enforcement:

“And what that has done is that has sprung up a series of criminal activity that surrounds that. Prostitution as we’ve cracked down on dealing with just these folks, narcotics trafficking.”

Castor says the illegals who were arrested in the sweep have been taken to a holding area in York, Pa., where they will await deportation. But he admits keeping them out of the country could be difficult.

Some of those arrested have already been deported, but somehow found their way back.


http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/347748.php ... tId=406187

04/11/2007
Illegal alien sweep nets no warrants
By: MARGARET GIBBONS , For The Reporter

NORRISTOWN - More than half of the illegal aliens netted in Norristown in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Operation Return to Sender last week were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, according to Montgomery County authorities.


A total of 37 illegal aliens in Norristown were swept up in the operation. They were all men and 24 were from Mexico, 12 from Honduras and one from Lebanon.
The sweep, which involved federal immigration and custom agents who were assisted by county detectives as well as Norristown and East Norriton police, was designed to pick up illegal aliens for which there were arrest warrants, primarily for criminal activity.
However, during the sweep, law enforcement officers came across those with no criminal history but who were residing illegally in the United States.
That is because many of these illegal aliens were residing at the same residences as those wanted on the warrants.
Eight were arrested at 625 Cherry St., seven at 803 Green St. and six at 349 E. Marshall St.
Norristown Police Chief Russell J. Bono said that, in many instances, illegal aliens are residing in overcrowded rental units.
"Our code enforcement department is vigorously seeking out these apartments but sometimes it is difficult to get in and overcrowding also is difficult to prove," said Bono. "Basically what we find is a bunch of mattresses in different rooms. We've had up to 24 mattresses in one apartment."
"It is a problem, something that we have worked on and will continue to address," said the chief.
Noting that his prosecutors are cross-designated as special solicitors for Norristown, Castor offered the help of his staff in pursuing these code violations.
Castor said his own hands are tied in pursuing illegal aliens.
While immigration agents can arrest them and have them deported, his detectives and local police officers can only take them into custody if they violate criminal laws.
We can deal with the criminal activity that flows from that segment of the population including prostitution and drug dealing, said Castor.
Stating that federal authorities have heard the public's outcry concerning the growing illegal alien population, Castor said he believes similar joint sweeps will continue in the county in the future.






©Reporter online.com 2007
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Good for him, keep up the good work and don't let anyone make you feel guilty about it!