Immigrants stopped on way to clear stadium

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Immigration agents pulled over four vanloads of Guatemalan immigrants this week in southeast Massachusetts, detaining seven, a spokeswoman said.

Some of those in the vans told The Providence Journal they were on their way to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., to clear snow in preparation for Sunday's New England Patriots playoff game.

Paula Grenier, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the action was a routine sweep to look for illegal immigrants who had ignored deportation orders. She said in addition to the seven being detained, 49 were told to report for additional interviews on their immigration status, two were released after being charged with violations of immigration laws, one had legal identification papers and one is going through a removal proceeding.

"This was a targeted law-enforcement operation looking for specific fugitives," Grenier said. "We have two individuals wanted on warrants of deportation and five who have illegally reentered the United States after having been deported."

Stacey James, a spokesman for the Patriots, said the Guatemalans work for a contractor and it is up to that company to make sure it employs only legal immigrants.