The Intelligencer
Ohio -- While federal immigration officials dispute claims that they ordered the release of 20 illegal aliens apprehended Tuesday in Belmont County, Sheriff Fred Thompson has a plan for dealing with similar situations in the future.
“What we’re going to do is start seizing their vehicles and send them on their merry way,” Thompson said of future contacts with suspected illegal aliens.
Greg Palmore, spokesman for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, said agents did not order the release of 20 allegedly illegal aliens detained by deputies in Belmont County.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, continues to support Thompson as well as the Chillicothe, Ohio, Police Department in what he described as “almost identical incidents.”
Several weeks ago, Chillicothe police apprehended four illegal immigrants in a hotel room, Ney said, but released them after immigration officials noted they had not violated any laws.
“I am 150 percent sure of the competence of Sheriff Fred Thompson and his deputies,” Ney said. “I have no doubts Fred Thompson and his deputies followed procedures. There is no reason to question them.”
Posted by Richard at June 22, 2006