United Staes Federal immigration officials say they arrested 225 illegal immigrants (Ghanaians included) with outstanding deportation orders as part of a six-state operation. The arrests were in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Indiana and Missouri. The four-day operation ended Monday.

In the Chicago area, federal agents arrested 30 people from many countries including Ghana nine —part of a continued escalation of enforcement against illegal immigration that has stirred fear and anger in immigrant enclaves across the country. In the Chicago area, 632 "fugitive aliens" have been arrested during such sweeps between October and last week.

Washingto -- Immigration officials are increasingly scouring jails and courts nationwide and reviewing years-old criminal records to identify deportable immigrants, efforts that have contributed to a steep rise in deportations and strained the immigration court system... read more