By Mitch Stacy The Associated Press Posted September 11 2002

TAMPA · The Immigration and Naturalization Service arrested 32 undocumented and criminal immigrants in a 10-day sweep of Tampa Bay-area counties, the INS said Tuesday.

Those arrested came from 20 countries, and some have been convicted of crimes ranging from fraud and weapons possession to armed robbery and child molestation, said James Mata, assistant director of the INS detention and removal program in Florida.

Mata stressed that none of the detainees is suspected of terrorism and that the operation was unrelated to anti-terrorism task force activities.

"These operations are a part of our daily duties and activities," Mata said. "[They are] merely more coordinated and focused."

Mata said the detainees already were known to the INS system and were identified as either being here illegally or having committed a felony, which is grounds for deportation.

The INS worked with local authorities to round them up, going after the felons first.

"The target is always those dangerous felons, to get them out of the community," INS spokesman Rodney Germain said.

The names of the detainees -- 26 men and six women -- were not immediately released. Twenty of them had committed felonies, and 12 were in the United States illegally.

Twenty-four were arrested in Hillsborough County, three in Polk, two in Pinellas, and one each in Sarasota, Manatee and Hardee counties.

"Some have been put immediately on a plane back to their countries, some are in detention awaiting arrival of their travel documents, and some may end up requesting a motion to reopen their case," Mata said.

The INS said other concentrated efforts to target undocumented and criminal immigrants are in the works. A similar operation in Orlando netted 23 arrests in June.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2002

Answers

nab em after they voted?

I wonder how many were registered democrats?

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2002