Fort Lee officials deal with illegal immigrants

By News in Brief
Published: September 1, 2008

PETERSBURG—Officials at Fort Lee are dealing with an increase in illegal immigrant arrests.

Sixty-two illegal immigrants have been arrested so far this year while trying to enter the base, compared to 15 in all of 2006. There were 89 arrests last year.

Fort Lee Police Chief Joseph Metzger says most have been Hispanics who were commercial-delivery drivers or were entering the Army base to do construction and landscaping work.

Fort Lee officials cite a construction boom for the increase in illegal immigrants trying to enter the base. Eleven construction projects totaling about $700 million are under way there as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission plan. On any given day, 750 to 900 construction workers are on base.