ICE arrests 24 in Missouri, Illinois

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested 24 men in Missouri and Illinois for what officials call "egregious" immigration violations, including individuals who entered the country illegally and committed crimes.

The arrests, made in a five-day roundup last week, were announced Tuesday. Arrests occurred in the Missouri counties of St. Charles and New Madrid, and in the Illinois counties of Champaign, McLean, Effingham and Jackson.

ICE says 15 of those arrested were criminals with convictions that include sexual misconduct, felonious restraint and other charges. Others arrested were fugitives with outstanding deportation orders.

ICE says 14 of the suspects are from Mexico, nine from Guatemala and one from India. An immigration judge will determine whether the suspects should be deported.