More than 900 immigration arrests in Calif. (AP c/o Mercury News)

More than 900 immigration arrests in Calif.

The Associated Press
Article Launched: 05/24/2008 10:25:23 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO—Federal agents say they have arrested more than 900 people in California on immigration violations so far this month.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency says roughly 20 percent of those arrested had felony or misdemeanor criminal convictions. Some had been previously deported and had returned to the United States.

The agency says nearly half of those arrested - 441 people - were in Northern California. Most of those arrested weren't being targeted but were discovered during the immigration raids to not have legal authorization to be in the United States.