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ICE agents arrest 44 illegal immigrants

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By The Associated Press

Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 - 06:31:16 pm CDT

OMAHA — Immigration agents say they’ve arrested 44 illegal immigrants during a five-day operation in several Nebraska cities.

In Lexington, 25 people were arrested, along with 12 in Grand Island, two in Broken Bow and one each in Cozad, Gibbon, Hastings, Kearney and North Platte.

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official say arrests were made at homes and businesses in the days leading up to Tuesday.

Of the suspects, 28 were fugitives, meaning they had defied an immigration judge’s final order to leave the country and were targets of the operation. The other 16 were illegal immigrants arrested as agents targeted others.

They are from Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico and El Salvador and were being held at county jails in Nebraska.


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clint wrote on June 26, 2008 5:30 am:
" Way to go ICE send the illegals back and the rest to prison. "

Sara wrote on June 26, 2008 8:51 am:
" How dare they not look beyond the situation. I went to Mexico for a church mission, and now I can seriouly can say that I understand why many immigrants come to the U.S. for a better living. I can't imagine living on a 150.00 a month salary. This world was meant to be free and if they aren't doing anything wrong why should they be sent back. Us as U.S. citizens should help others!!! There is way to much hate in peoples hearts when it comes to illegal immigrants. We should put ourselves in there shoes because what if this world was turn the other way around. We would want to be free too! "

GIguy wrote on June 26, 2008 10:35 am:
" What has always struck me about the immigrants who come to this country is what they are willing to do and sacrifice to be here. They leave their friends and family, their homeland... and then they take the jobs that there are not enough legal Americans to do. They do the hardest work for the lowest wages... and they don't complain... as they are making a small fortune compared to where they come from. Then they PAY TAXES on what they make. If they use a false SS# they never see any of that tax money come back to them. I'm not talking about the criminals here though I know that elements slips in as well. The number of sincere, hard working, God loving latinos who come here illegally FAR out weigh the problem makers. What brave people they are to endure what they must endure to create a better life for themselves! Aren't these core American values? Hard work? Love for family? Love for God? Its a shame that a small, vocal element of our "free, just and God loving" community want to villanize and criminalize the very people who aspire to the same values we hold so close and cherish so dearly. "

Mary wrote on June 26, 2008 11:00 am:
" I wish they really did catch all of the 2 million illegals that are projected to be in the US. That way we can see how much our vulnerable economy is relying on these families to give us cheap labor. Cheap labor = cheap food. If the food reflected their market value had we employed Americans, I am sure clint would be ushering in new "recruits" himself. I am tired of seeing companies coming to Mexico and recruiting men to work for them. Government agencies didn't seem to mind when they needed cheap labor, turning a blind eye until they were no longer necessary.

What do you think was going to happen? NAFTA promised jobs for Mexicans. It promised that there would be a free trade between Canada, Mexico and the US which would benefit all three countries. But when it came down, the US was unwilling to take away taxes on imports. Warning that our American families would suffer from cheap products that flooded the US market. The US subsidizes so much in order for our business to be able to compete in the world economy. Not allowing Mexican products to come in at market value has put a strain on their economy. Illegal crossings are just the effect of our bad economic policies.

Honestly, do you really think sending them all back would be the answer. How many times have you gone to a restaurant and eaten food made by an illegal (more than you think). Or passed by a construction company using them to work on our roads. What about government agencies (you would think right)? I am not just talking about those from Latin American countries. Most illegal immigrants come here legally but choose not to return to their countries. I say this to those "American" citizens who target unsuspecting Hispanic families. Many of you forget that the military is excepting these young men. Some of which have died to defend the very country kicking them out. So next time you wave your flag, and stand on your soap box, I hope you realize that there are many more people you need to thank for that right than your white American neighbor. "

We have laws for a reason wrote on June 26, 2008 11:45 am:
" And, a person stealing food at the store in the this country - or someone who robs a bank because they are desperate, poor, abused...have similar sad stories. There are laws in this nation for a reason. Whether you are a citizen and commit a crime or an illegal (and commiting a crime by being here), you break the law - you have to face the consequences. You took the risk...personal responsibility people, personal responsibility!!! "

JoBeth wrote on June 26, 2008 6:54 pm:
" Gee, don't all of these towns have meat packing plants? "