June 20, 2007
NANTUCKET, Mass. --Federal agents arrested 18 people during an immigration raid targeting convicted criminals on Wednesday at the start of the summer tourism season that depends on immigrants who work in the island's hotels and restaurants.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the round up targeted criminals whose convictions make them ineligible to remain in the United States.
Sixteen of the 18 people arrested had been convicted of various charges, including drug offenses, assault and battery, possession of a dangerous weapon and larceny, said Paula Grenier, a spokeswoman for ICE in Boston.
Six immigrants had final orders of deportation from an immigration judge but had failed to comply with the orders, Grenier said. Two people were illegal immigrants who now face deportation proceedings.
"Today's enforcement action was first and foremost a public safety operation," said Bruce Foucart, special agent-in-charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Boston.
Grenier said the immigrants who were arrested were from Brazil, Lithuania, Jamaica, Cuba, El Salvador, Ireland and England. She said she did not know what kinds of jobs they were doing on the island.
Many immigrants from Central America, South America and Eastern Europe work there during the busy summer tourism season.
"It's sort of the lifeblood of this community," said Magee Detmer, who said she hires legal immigrants -- many from Jamaica -- to work at her Nantucket Bake Shop every summer.
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