Mo. police detain 250 illegal immigrants in 9 months

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol has identified 250 illegal immigrants since last summer.

Gov. Matt Blunt ordered the patrol to check the immigration status of those whom they arrest. From Aug. 27 through the end of last week, the patrol says it identified 250 illegal immigrants from among the people it arrested.

The patrol also is sending 10 troopers next month to get special immigration training through the Department of Homeland Security. A spokesman for the patrol says the focus of that training will likely be designed to be more efficient when troopers find illegal immigrants on the roadways.