Fewer inmates suspected of immigration violations

The number of people at the Costa Mesa jail suspected of immigration violations dropped in September after peaking in June, immigration officials said. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent working at the city jail flagged 38 people as suspected illegal immigrants last month, officials said.

A total of 463 people have been flagged for possible immigration violations since an agent was placed at the jail in December. The agent checks the immigration status of people who are booked at the jail on suspicion of other crimes.

The highest monthly total so far was in June, when 59 people were flagged. In both July and August, officials identified 52 people they suspected of immigration violations. Those identified in September were all originally from Mexico, except for one each from Colombia and El Salvador.

— Alicia Robinson