This was the first fugitive illegal immigrant sweep in the state since U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement created fugitive operations teams throughout the country to look for those who have ignored the orders of immigration judges, said Gail Montenegro, a spokeswoman for the agency.

Six of those arrested had been convicted of felonies ranging from drug dealing and bank fraud to battery and robbery. Four others have criminal histories ranging from assault to criminal damage to property. The others did not have criminal records but ignored deportation orders. Most were arrested at their homes, although one person was originally ordered deported in Miami, Montenegro said.

"They jump from one area to another, but now we are making a concentrated area to enforce outstanding deportation orders," she said.

The operation ran from March 15 to Friday. Sixteen were from the Milwaukee area, two from Madison, one each from Sheboygan and Kenosha and one, Juan Alvarado, 32, from the Dominican Republic was located in prison facing state drug charges.

Those arrested are illegal immigrant fugitives from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Macedonia, Mali, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Peru and Poland.

Among those arrested were Jose Inez Saavedra, 46, a Mexican citizen and convicted drug dealer who was arrested at his West Allis residence on March 21, Montenegro said. He was convicted in Waukesha County in 1993 and sentenced to three years in prison. In April 1998, a federal immigration judge ordered him removed from the United States. The Board of Immigration Appeals also denied his appeal. In February, 2003 Saavedra was ordered deported, but ignored the deportation orders.

Another of those arrested was Obinna Charles Enwereeuzo, 38, a Nigerian citizen who has been convicted of bank fraud and theft for filing false claims with an insurance company. He was arrested March 21 at his Milwaukee residence. Enwereeuzo was ordered deported in 1998. His appeal was dismissed in 2002. He was scheduled for deportation in October 2002 but defied the order.

Those arrested will be held in custody until they are removed, Montenegro said. None is suspected of terrorist activity, she said.

The agency estimates that there are about 465,000 fugitive illegal immigrants who have ignored lawful deportation orders by immigration judges, she said.

During the 2004 fiscal year, the apprehension of fugitive illegal immigrants increased by 112% nationwide, resulting in 11,063 arrests, she said. The Chicago office arrested 572 fugitive illegal immigrants from an area that includes Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin.