ICE takes 20 people to jail after I-80 stop (Des Moines Register)

ICE takes 20 people to jail after I-80 stop

By LEE HERMISTON • Iowa City Press-Citizen • April 10, 2009

Iowa City, Ia. - Officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended 20 people Thursday after a routine traffic stop on Interstate Highway 80.

Tim Counts, ICE spokesman for the five-state jurisdiction that includes Iowa, said little information was available about the alleged illegal immigrants.

At 9:10 a.m., a Coralville officer pulled over a white Ford Econoline van for going 15 mph over the 55 mph limit at the 241 mile marker on I-80, Coralville Police Lt. Shane Kron said. The van stopped at the 244-mile marker near the Dubuque Street exit in Iowa City.

Kron said the officer spoke with the driver, but the driver's answers weren't adding up, and the officer grew suspicious. Kron said the windows of the van were blacked out. Kron said the officer called Iowa City police to request their narcotics dog.

While the dog was en route, the driver of the van admitted there were 11 people in the back of the van. However, when the officer ordered all of the people out, 20 men and women emerged, including the driver.

The officer was suspicious and called officers from the ICE Cedar Rapids office, Kron said. About 25 minutes later, the ICE officers arrived and took the group of people, Kron said.

Counts said the group was transferred to temporary holding rooms at the ICE Cedar Rapids office. He said those being held would be transferred to a local jail to stay overnight.

Because the group was arrested on administrative charges for being in the country illegally, rather than criminal charges, their names would not be released, Counts said. He said interviews were being conducted.