ICE arrests 30 illegals on Gulf Coast (WALA-AL)

ICE arrests 30 illegals on Gulf Coast
Surge Operation brings in dozens of aliens

Updated: Tuesday, 09 Aug 2011, 10:17 PM CDT

* Paige Malone

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A huge Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation over the weekend landed dozens of illegal aliens behind bars. Agents made arrests all over Mobile, Baldwin and Northwest Florida counties.

A glance at the Baldwin County jail log reveals more than 30 people booked on immigration holds.

ICE officials said those picked up in its operation are one of three types of illegals: fugitive aliens, convicted criminal aliens or those who reentered the country after being deported.

The suspects listed addresses all over the Gulf Coast, including in Theodore, Mobile, Pensacola, Crestview, Daphne and Saraland.

Wilfredo Saballa had been staying at a house in Mobile for a while now. The owner of the home is elderly and said Saballa has been helping her out.

She said Sunday before 6 a.m., there was a knock at the door.

"They just told me that 'We are looking [for] somebody that [is] missing the court,” said the woman.

She said Saballa called her later and said he was being taken to Louisiana.

"Yeah, when he called me, I said, 'Where are you now?' He say, 'We are going to take them to Louisiana,'” said the woman.

Saballa is one of ten illegal immigrants picked up in Mobile.

Leandro Rivas was picked up at his house in Orchard Estates where he lived with his wife and young daughter. Neighbors said a jail log is the last place they expected to see his face.

"He has been a very, very good neighbor here in Orchard Estates. He is a very hard working man. He is a very family-oriented man, and as far as I know about Mr. Rivas, he goes to church,” said a neighbor.

The operation started on Friday and ended on Monday.