http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/n ... 719965.htm

Posted on Sat, Feb. 17, 2007

FEDERAL OPERATION

Authorities say they arrested 48 illegal immigrants
DWI offenders, those accused of ignoring deportation are targeted
MELISSA MANWARE
mmanware@charlotteobserver.com

Federal authorities in Charlotte say they arrested 48 illegal immigrants in the past few days, including a suspected child molester and numerous men who had been charged with driving while impaired.

The arrests were part of Operation Secure Streets, a year-old program that targets illegal immigrants who are DWI offenders or accused of disregarding deportation orders.

Since the program was created in April, more than 250 illegal immigrants have been removed from the Charlotte area, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Among those arrested this week was Sergio Figueroa Uribe, 26, who was wanted in Milwaukee, where he is accused of sexually assaulting a child, and Jose Antonio Vanegas-Rodriguez, 25, who has been convicted of driving while impaired three times.

ICE spokesman Richard Rocha said those arrested are from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Pakistan. He said half have prior criminal convictions.

Earlier this week, federal authorities said an illegal immigrant charged in a fatal Rowan County wreck last week had been arrested at least three times in North Carolina but not deported afterward. He is now charged with second-degree murder and driving while impaired in last week's crash, which killed a 20-year-old Salisbury woman and her unborn baby.

Rocha said this week's operation was planned before that crash.

Operation Secure Streets was created in response to the 2005 death of a Mount Holly teacher, who was killed by an illegal immigrant driving drunk.