February 12, 2010

Illegals nabbed in area



A dozen illegal immigrants with criminal records were arrested in the Harrisonburg area last week during a four-day enforcement sweep by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

During the operation, which concluded Feb. 4, ICE officers from the field office in Washington, D.C., arrested 32 criminal aliens and four fugitives in Virginia and the District, according to a news release. A total of 20 arrests were made in Northern Virginia.

Rockingham County Sheriff Don Farley said local authorities did not participate in making any arrests, but the Combined Harrisonburg and Rockingham County Gang Enforcement task force, or CHARGE, was notified by ICE in advance as a courtesy.

“Any time we get rid of a criminal element — I don’t care what their nationality is — that’s good,â€