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Agents detain Indonesians at Newmarket home
Manchester Union Leader ^ | 2001.11.08 | KATHRYN MARCHOCKI

Posted on 11/08/2001 5:26:02 AM PST by N00dleN0gg1n

Agents detain Indonesians
at Newmarket home

By KATHRYN MARCHOCKI
Union Leader Staff

If the dozens of people living in a Newmarket ranch house didn’t raise neighbors’ suspicions, the 20 to 30 cars crammed in the driveway and makeshift, backyard parking lot did.

Couple this with an edgy public on high alert in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the fact that many of the men are from Indonesia, home to one of the world’s largest Muslim populations.

Worried residents tipped off police.

“It raised a red flag,” Newmarket Police Chief Rodney Collins said yesterday, a day after local police assisted federal agents in a raid on the 180 Exeter Road home.

“We’re talking 20 to 30 vehicles at a time at a residence that is probably a three- or four-bedroom house,” he said.

Ten middle-aged men, all Indonesian citizens, were detained in the “enforcement action” by federal Immigration and Naturalization Service agents who arrived at the beige ranch about 6:30 a.m., INS acting deputy district director Gary Cote said.

They face administrative charges for either allegedly overstaying their visas or not being authorized to remain in the United States, he said.

Authorities said they have uncovered no evidence to suggest the immigrants are involved in terrorist activities.

“We, at this time, do not believe it is in any way related to the events of Sept. 11,” Cote said.

“This action was a normal enforcement initiative that INS has as part of its responsibilities,” he added.

No criminal charges are pending against the illegal immigrants with the INS or Newmarket police, authorities said.

The INS still is looking for up to 20 others who used the house to register their cars and give as their address, a law enforcement official said.

“People are on edge and being vigilant. This is a good thing. But this is no cause for hysteria. This was really nothing more than an unannounced visit to find out about illegal immigrants,” Collins said.

Law enforcement officials are investigating unconfirmed reports that some of the immigrants worked as laborers in Newfields and Boston.

“We can’t confirm that they did have jobs as of this date,” Cote said.

“Most of them came as visitors at some point,” Cote explained. “These individuals would not be entitled to citizenship because they were not here as legal, permanent residents. They are here on a temporary basis.”

One couple who lives nearby said the group had been living in the house for about a year.

But they didn’t become known to police until they got calls from several residents a few weeks ago.

Police kept the house under surveillance but found no criminal activity going on.

“At this juncture, we have no reason to believe that any crimes have been committed here,” Collins said.

About two weeks ago, police contacted INS, who informed them that several of the people allegedly are illegal immigrants, he said.

Authorities were armed and wearing body armor but did not have weapons drawn when they entered the house, he said. The occupants let them in voluntarily, he said. One of the men detained was found hiding in a closet.

Police were concerned because one of the individuals who listed the house as his address had a first-degree assault conviction. He was not among those detained Tuesday.

Cote would not release the names of the 10 detainees, saying the absence of criminal charges protects them under federal privacy law.

They are scheduled to appear before detention hearings in the next few days in U.S. Immigration Court in Boston, he said.

The men are being held on bonds ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 each at detention facilities, Cote said.

(Union Leader correspondent Peg Warner contributed to this report.)


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Nice to see the INS actually doing its job for a change!
1 posted on 11/08/2001 5:26:02 AM PST by N00dleN0gg1n
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To: N00dleN0gg1n
Well, it was alert citizens who did their job. I wonder if the INS would have been so quick to "do its job" if 9/11 hadn't happened..
2 posted on 11/08/2001 5:39:46 AM PST by NewHampshireDuo
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To: N00dleN0gg1n
Nice to see the INS actually doing its job for a change!

Agreed, however being in this country illegally should be grounds enough for being held without bail.Unless of course we are not being typically PC, and actually following them

God Bless America

3 posted on 11/08/2001 5:40:03 AM PST by JustAnAmerican
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To: N00dleN0gg1n
yeah, but will they deport them if they are illegal?
4 posted on 11/08/2001 5:40:55 AM PST by Dudoight
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To: Dudoight
What I don't understand is why all the court action??? If there visa has expired and they are here illegally. Put them on the next plane to their home country...pure and simple.
5 posted on 11/08/2001 5:53:18 AM PST by BobWNY
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To: N00dleN0gg1n
Ah yes, now that the spot light is on the INS jumps into
action. What a bunch of losers!!! If they had been doing
their job all a long this wouldnt be necessary. Not too many
years ago in a town very close to Newmarket a car load of
hispanics was stopped for a moving violation. During the
interview it was discovered they were illegals. Off to the
station they went where it was assumed the INS would collect
them. Almost an entire shift later the INS notified
the local PD that since no 'crime' had been commmitted they
should be let go. This was SOP for the INS until 9/11!
6 posted on 11/08/2001 10:28:01 AM PST by 556x45
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To: JustAnAmerican
In theory yes but practice is very different. In fact an
illegal is rarely jailed for being illegal. Once in the
criminal justice system though they rarely get out. You'd
be amazed at the (high) number of illegals who are incarcerated
with virtually no chance of getting out for any reason (even
deportation). They rattle around in the federal/state prison
system being moved from one facility to another making it
very difficult for their public defender to find them.
Its like a big game to someone.
7 posted on 11/08/2001 10:36:41 AM PST by 556x45
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