By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Ten illegal immigrants were detained by the Missouri Highway Patrol over the weekend, following a traffic stop in Warren County.
Officials say a state trooper pulled over a vehicle for tailgating, and the driver produced what turned out to be a falsified Mexican driver's license.
Nine other occupants in the vehicle showed either false ID's or none at all.
Lt. John Potts with the Missouri State Highway Patrol says they work closely with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit, or I.C.E.
"We come into contact with thousands of individuals every day...and if the circumstances indicate the individual might be here in this country illegally, the patrol works with I.C.E. to determine that person's status," Potts said.
State troopers cannot enforce federal immigration laws, but they can detain people who are found to be illegally in the United States.
Governor Matt Blunt is seeking permission from Washington to allow state law officers to enforce federal immigration laws.