OTTUMWA — An ongoing federal initiative to capture “immigration fugitives” has resulted in several arrests locally.

“We understand that some people were taken into custody by ICE,” said Lt. Tom McAndrew of the Ottumwa Police Department. “We’re referring all questions to [Immigration and Customs Enforcement].”

“ICE was in the Ottumwa area earlier this week,” confirmed Gail Montenegro, a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement spokesperson. “We made a total of eight arrests Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the Ottumwa and Oskaloosa areas during an operation which targets immigration fugitives.”

Montenegro said the agency is unable to provide specifics on the case or the suspects. But when asked about nationalities, she was able to name the country of origin for all captured individuals: El Salvador, Guatemala, Mali (Africa), Mauritania (Africa), Mexico and Peru.

“An immigration fugitive is an individual who has had due process, been through the court proceedings... was ordered to depart the United States by an immigration judge, and did not leave the U.S. in defiance of the judge’s order. We are out looking for specific individuals.”

Like any law enforcement agency, ICE has a large area to cover and only a certain number of agents. But finding immigration fugitives is one of the agency’s priorities, she said.

When asked about future fugitve-enforcement operations in Iowa or this part of the state, Montenegro referred to the effort as “an ongoing initiative.”

Reporter Mark Newman can be reached at 683-5358 or via e-mail at mgnewman@mchsi.com. Information on regulations and enforcement can be found via www.ice.gov.