http://www.standardspeaker.com/index.ph ... 4&Itemid=2

Police nab four illegal immigrants
Wednesday, 06 September 2006
STAFF REPORTS
Hazleton police detained three illegal immigrants after a traffic stop on Monday evening; and when their friend came to the station to check on them, police detained him, too. The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued detainers on all four, who were transported to Luzerne County Correctional Facility.

Police identified the four as Imer Perez, 20, of South Pine Street; Urias Lopez, 23, of McKinley Street; Octavio Cadena, 24, of Alter Street; and Armando Ledesma, 28, of North Laurel Street.

Hazleton police have said ICE placed detainers on illegal immigrants when authorities request action.

Defendants in the May 10 murder of Derek Kichline were among those on whom ICE placed detainers.

The murder and a shooting at the Pine Street playground led the city to enact one of the first illegal immigration relief acts in the nation.

In July, District Judge Joseph Zola arranged for ICE to detain a trio arrested for underaged drinking in Hazleton.

State police in August, however, released travelers stopped on Interstate 80 in Butler Township after ICE declined to issue detainers.

Hazleton City Council plans to modify and re-introduce the Illegal Immigration Relief Act during a special meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday.

Groups filed legal challenges to the first version of the act that received final approval on Aug. 15, prompting the city to redraft the ordinance to withstand a court test better.

The original version fined landlords $1,000 a day for knowingly renting to illegal immigrants, prevented businesses that hired illegal immigrants from renewing businesses licenses or getting city grants and made English the official language of city government.

While the law was set to take effect on Oct. 1, the revisions might push back the date.