Illegals nabbed in area (Rocktown Weekly)

Illegals nabbed in area

A dozen illegal immigrants with criminal records were arrested in the Harrisonburg area last week during a four-day enforcement sweep by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

During the operation, which concluded Feb. 4, ICE officers from the field office in Washington, D.C., arrested 32 criminal aliens and four fugitives in Virginia and the District, according to a news release. A total of 20 arrests were made in Northern Virginia.

Rockingham County Sheriff Don Farley said local authorities did not participate in making any arrests, but the Combined Harrisonburg and Rockingham County Gang Enforcement task force, or CHARGE, was notified by ICE in advance as a courtesy.

“Any time we get rid of a criminal element — I don’t care what their nationality is — that’s good,” Farley said. “I’ll take any help that we can get.”

According to the news release from ICE, the illegal immigrants detained during the operation who are not being criminally prosecuted will be processed administratively for removal from the United States.

Those who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country.

The remaining aliens are in ICE custody awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge or pending travel arrangements for removal in the near future.