Immigration Criminal Apprehension Taskforce processes 123 illegal aliens in two-month period

FT. SMITH, Ark - One hundred and twenty-three illegal aliens were processed here for removal between December 2007 and January 2008 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE's) designated Immigration Criminal Apprehension Taskforce (ICAT) in Northwest Arkansas.

Most of the individuals encountered had entered the United States illegally, without inspection, and found themselves in police custody for various legal violations. Some of the violations included driving while intoxicated, the use and sale of controlled substances and identity theft.

The taskforce worked with the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas to prosecute seven individuals for illegally re-entering the United States after being deported and one additional individual for entering the United States without inspection. There were also five illegal aliens who were identified as aggravated-felons for being convicted of offenses including narcotics trafficking and for performing a lewd act on a child under the age of 14.