Raid of Downtown hotel nets 68 in U.S. illegally

By Adriana M. Chavez / El Paso Times

Article Launched: 06/01/2007 12:00:00 AM MDT

Sixty-eight undocumented immigrants were found in a Downtown hotel where a similar bust occurred last year.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents working with the Border Enforcement Security Team, or BEST, received a tip Thursday morning about a group of immigrants staying at the Gateway Hotel, 104 S. Stanton.

ICE spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa said the 68 immigrants included two Nicaraguans and 66 Mexican nationals, including three Mexican juveniles.

Zamarripa said that agents interviewed each immigrant individually and that some were interviewed more than once. She said the Mexican immigrants found would be returned to Mexico within 24 hours of the bust.

"With Mexican illegal aliens, oftentimes they're removed to their country the same day," Zamarripa said.