Some have sought federal immigration enforcement training for their officers while others have alerted immigration officials of illegal immigrants caught in the criminal justice system.

Mostly Chinese, these men are illegal immigrants caught by the Croatian authorities, and they now await deportation.

Elsa Figueroa App, a city councilwoman who was the first Hispanic to be elected to that office last year, said she planned to raise money and look for other ways to help the illegal immigrants caught in the fallout.

The new rule will apply to illegal immigrants caught within 100 miles of the Mexican and Canadian borders who have spent up to 14 days within the United States.

Now, Agent Lopez said, the number of illegal immigrants caught by agents has fallen to 25,053 in the last fiscal year, from 66,135 in 1997 - proof, he says, that fewer people are trying to cross here.

A majority of illegal immigrants caught by the Border Patrol are returned to their home countries - in the case of Mexicans, almost immediately - without charges.

- a man from the Bahamas walked across the ice on Jan. 25, for instance - but most of the illegal immigrants caught here are Chinese or Korean.

The government's highest priority is securing Libyan agreement to take back irregular immigrants caught in transit.

Also, new expedited procedures have allowed agents greater flexibility to deport illegal immigrants caught in border areas, bypassing court hearings.

Under the new policy, border agents will summarily deport illegal immigrants caught within 100 miles of the Mexican and Canadian borders who have spent up to 14 days within the United States.