Traffic stop nets illegals (News Item)

Traffic stop nets illegals
FROM STAFF REPORTS
05/27/2008

MOUNT CARMEL TOWNSHIP — A routine traffic stop turned into a lot more Sunday night after six illegal immigrants were discovered trespassing on coal lands.

Patrolman Matthew Filarski, Mount Carmel Township police, reported he observed a white Dodge truck with an all-terrain vehicle in the bed pull out of Susquehanna Coal Co. property, which is private, and travel east on Route 54 in the westbound passing lane at 9:44 p.m.

After initiating a traffic stop, the truck’s driver, Victor Hugo Romero Urena, was issued citations for trespass by motor vehicle and driving on divided highways, according to Filarski.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered the occupants were residing in North Carolina and New Jersey and the passengers, Ivannia Maria Salmeron Navarro, Sanchez Ifaro Anna Yendry, Salmeron Navarro Guiselle and Calderon N. Douglas Hernan, were all from Costa Rica.

While checking with the National Crime Information Center, it was learned that the passengers, as well as Urena and a 14-year-old unidentified female passenger, were all in the country illegally.

Police contacted United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and were advised to take all occupants into custody, where they were transported to the Mount Carmel Township Police Department.

Allenwood ICE agents arrived at the police department and took the individuals into custody, transporting them to a detention facility pending a deportation hearing.

Filarski was assisted by Mount Carmel Township Officers David Donkochik, Matthew Dillman and Kevin Katch.