Ohio sweep nets 154

Federal authorities track down immigrants from 30 countries living illegally in the state

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Kevin Mayhood

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Homeland Security agents took to Ohio streets the past week, arresting 154 undocumented immigrants.

The agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices in Boston, Philadelphia, Buffalo and Detroit came heavily armed and loaded with files and warrants for deportation.

They took in immigrants from 30 countries and every continent save Antarctica. Among those arrested, 82 were from Mexico, followed by 19 from El Salvador and seven from Mauritania.

The men and women had been caught entering the country illegally and were ordered to court but never showed or had been ordered deported but never left, authorities said. Twenty had been charged with crimes. One was a reputed member of the Mexican street gang MS13.

No recent event spurred the sweep, government officials said.

"Sept. 11 showed us that, to have security, we have to have an immigration system with integrity," said Marc A. Raimondi, national spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Most of the Sept. 11 terrorists had taken advantage of lax enforcement, he said.

"You can’t have integrity if there is no consequence for abusing the laws or ignoring a court order."