25 Illegal Aliens Arrested at LAX
Federal agents, responding to an apparent resurgence in the smuggling of illegal immigrants aboard airliners, arrested 25 aliens in Los Angeles with tickets for “red-eye” flights bound for New York and New Jersey, authorities said Friday.
The illegal aliens from El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico were aboard flights scheduled to leave Los Angeles International Airport shortly before 11 p.m. on Thursday, said Gerald Klippness, a special agent for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Klippness, assigned to the INS’ anti-smuggling unit, said the aliens had tickets on Braniff and Northwest airlines’ “red-eye” flights to New York City and Newark, N.J., where they hoped to find work.
They apparently flew into the airport from their native countries, Klippness said. Four of the 25 aliens were women but it could not be immediately determined if any children were taken into custody.
It was the second INS sweep at the airport this week. On Sunday night, 38 aliens were taken into custody after INS officials received tips that alien-smugglers were using late-night flights.
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