Thread: TX: 24 await deportation in immigration sting

24 await deportation in immigration sting
Updated: 11/27/2007 10:26 AM
By: By Bob Robuck



Twenty-four undocumented immigrants were removed from an apartment in North Austin on Sunday afternoon.

The men, women and four children were found in a complex in the Interstate 35 and Rundberg Road area.

Officials believe the immigrants arrived at the residence Sunday morning. They were all taken to Austin's Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation center for questioning.

ICE says 10 have already been deported to Mexico and 14 are still in custody.

Neighbors say they've noticed a lot of activity at the residence involved over the past six months, and they're not surprised.

"I've seen a lot of people coming in and out, different sorts of hours. I don't know what's going on, but late at night people are coming and going," neighbor Jeanette Martinez said.

They also say the apartment community is transient and it's not difficult to hide a large group of immigrants.

"All these houses, there are about six or seven guys, women and men living together," another neighbor said.


Others claim an unofficial "don't ask, don't tell" policy by landlords makes the area attractive to immigrant smugglers.

One woman said some landlords don't even require documentation to lease an apartment. She said when she rented her place the manager didn't ask her for any identification.

And some predict this type of arrangement is happening in similar neighborhoods around Austin.

"It's everywhere. I think mostly every neighborhood, if you really look into it, there's a bunch of illegal people there," one man said.

The Austin Police Department and ICE continue to investigate.

The adults in custody could face misdemeanor charges of illegal entry, which carries a possible fine of $500 or six months in jail.

www.news8austin.com

One woman said some landlords don't even require documentation to lease an apartment. She said when she rented her place the manager didn't ask her for any identification.

That is exactly what the City of Farmers Branch wants to prevent.

They require more information than that, when you rent a hotel room. What if that apartment caught on fire, they would never be able to identify the missing people. At least if you own the property, your name is on the tax roll or other gov. records as your residence but renters are just a bunch of bodies.

Dixie