Sweep of convicted immigrants nets 16, cash and drugs

By Debbi Farr Baker
UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM

2:39 p.m. May 2, 2008

ESCONDIDO – A sweep targeting deported immigrants who were convicted of crimes and returned to the U.S. illegally resulted in the arrest of 16 people and the confiscation of a large amount of cash and drugs, authorities announced Friday.
Escondido police, in conjunction with Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents, conducted the operation on Wednesday and Thursday and took 15 men and one woman into custody.

Ten people were handed over to immigration officials to be processed for deportation, said Escondido police Lt. Bob Benton. While five others were jailed on warrants for crimes they have committed since their return.
One man caught in the sweep is a U.S. citizen who had a warrant out for his arrest, Benton said.

“Every one of them have extensive criminal histories,â€