Immigration fugitive team to work from Waco

© 2008 The Associated Press

WACO, Texas — Immigration authorities plan to station a team of agents in Waco to pursue fugitives in Central Texas, officials said.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is creating the team to track down people wanted by immigration authorities and immigrants with criminal records, said Nina Pruneda, an ICE spokeswoman in San Antonio.

"There happens to be a significant number of these fugitives in Waco and the surrounding areas," Pruneda said.

ICE had 75 fugitive apprehension teams deployed around the country by the end of fiscal year 2007 and proposed adding six more in fiscal year 2008.

Agents on the fugitive operations teams focus on finding people who haven't appeared for immigration hearings, or who stayed in the country after being ordered to leave by an immigration judge. Teams also prioritize cases, looking for those who have criminal records or are considered a threat to national security, ICE officials said.

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Information from: Waco Tribune-Herald, http://www.wacotrib.com