TRAVERSE CITY -- More than a dozen Mexican immigrants, allegedly here illegally, are in jail facing possible charges and deportation.
Federal officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeted several Northern Michigan communities Tuesday. Three people were arrested at the Agave Mexican Grill in Traverse City, others were arrested at area farms.
More arrests also took place in Cadillac and Lake City.
The ICE officers are with the Department of Homeland Security and 7 & 4 News is told the officers were looking for specific people on a list of suspected illegal immigrants, but witnesses say other people in the area were questioned and asked to provide the officers with documentation or face arrest.
Immigration officials say all but one of the 17 people arrested will remain in custody pending an investigation. The breakdown of charges is below:
3 foreign nationals have been accepted for federal prosecution on re-entry charges and will remain in custody until their cases are adjudicated.
6 foreign nationals will remain in custody pending removal proceedings. These individuals will have an opportunity to go before a federal immigration judge who will determine the outcome of their case.
7 fugitive aliens will remain in custody pending their removal from the U.S. These individuals were previously ordered deported and failed to comply and will now be removed to their country of origin.
1 foreign national, also a fugitive, was processed and released on an order of supervision for humanitarian reasons and will remain free from custody pending removal from the U.S.
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