PINAL COUNTY, AZ - On a single day in April, in a special cell block deep inside the Pinal County Jail, nearly 400 inmates sat awaiting trial or extradition after being detained trying to cross the Arizona border from Mexico.

Only about half of them were actually from Mexico.

The cell block, owned by Pinal County, but contracted with the Department of Homeland Security, is a way station in the immigration process, where inmates are held after they are detained by the Border Patrol or Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

But it’s where the inmates are from that causes concern for some critics and lawmakers.

On that one day in April, according to records obtained by ABC 15, Homeland Security officials were holding inmates from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon, and the Sudan.

“They’re coming from all over,” Arizona Senator Jon Kyl said. “And one wonders whether some of them are coming in here to commit acts of terror.”

Kyl has been tracking the problem since 2002, not long after the September 11 attacks. Since that time, according to an investigation by the House Committee on Homeland Security, intelligence officials have determined members of the terror group Hezbollah have already infiltrated the U.S. by crossing at the southern border.

ICE officials told congressional investigators, undocumented immigrants were smuggled from the Middle East to staging areas in Central and South America, before being smuggled into the U.S.

The report says officials are also concerned about Venezuela emerging as a terrorist “hub,” with the government there issuing travel documents that can be used to obtain a U.S. visa.

Border patrol agents have also recovered military-style patches on clothing near the border. One patch contains the word “martyr” in Arabic. Another depicts a plane appearing to fly into sky scrapers.

In 2009, according to Homeland Security documents obtained by ABC 15, ICE officials detained 45,279 undocumented immigrants classified as OTM. While the vast majority were from other Central American countries like El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, officials also arrested 10 undocumented immigrants from Iran, 10 from Iraq, six from Lebanon and 19 from Pakistan.

Through May of this year, officials had detained more than 25,000 OTM border crossers.

Officials interviewed for this story expressed frustration, because U.S. intelligence officials have known for the better part of a decade about terror groups’ willingness to smuggle people across the southern border, yet little has been done to substantially increase border security.

Officials also note the nightmarish scenario involved with returning detainees to their home countries. The Mexican government won’t accept a border crosser if they aren’t from Mexico, and many countries lack any diplomatic mechanism for repatriating a detainee.

“There’s a procedure which takes place, where, in effect, if we can’t send them back, they’re let go,” Senator Kyl said. “Obviously that creates an illegal immigration problem, but it could… create a problem of terrorism as well.”

“There’s a procedure which takes place, where, in effect, if we can’t send them back, they’re let go,”

A California congressman known for edgy sarcasm mocked an opponent of illegal immigration during a town hall meeting last week, asking, "Who are you going to kill today?" before the constituent, a self-identified Minuteman, posed his question.

Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., no stranger to controversy, mocked the idea that the borders are not secure when asked about the federal government's lack of activity on border security.

"We can't get enough Minutemen armed. We'd like to get all the Minutemen armed so they can stop shooting people here," Stark said.

Eventually, members of the audience urged Stark to offer a serious answer.

"If you knew anything about our borders, you would know that's not the case. Our borders are quite secure, thank you," Stark said, drawing jeers.

Stark resumed his hostile act, asking the Minuteman what he would do to secure the border.

"I would send about about 25,000 troops for one thing and build a wall down so vehicles could not pass," the Minuteman said.

"How high and long would it be?" Stark asked.

"As high and as long as it takes," the Minuteman said, elicting cheers.

Stark said he would start a ladder company with the Minuteman if he designed the wall and doesn't shoot the people coming over.

"But I've got to know how high the wall is and I'll sell a whole lot of ladders for people who want to come," Stark said.

"This is a very serious matter and you're sitting there making fun of it," the Minuteman responded.

"I don't have to make fun of you sir, you do a fine job all by yourself," Stark said.

Stark made the comments last week at a town hall audience that included Steve Kemp, a member of the Golden Gate Minutemen, a group that opposes illegal immigrants. Kemp recorded the confrontation.

A spokesman for Stark did not return voicemail messages left at his office or on his cell phone. He also didn't respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

The clash came as the national spotlight focuses on Arizona's tough new law cracking down on illegal immigrants and the protests it is drawing across the country, including a legal challenge from the federal government.

Immigration is shaping up to be among the critical election-year issues as Republicans try to regain control of both chambers in Congress riding a wave of anti-Washington sentiment.

Stark, a liberal Democrat, is expected to easily win re-election against a lightly regarded opponent, political newcomer Justin Jelincic, who describes himself as a conservative Democrat.

Stark earned his primary challenge after he slammed a constituent who voiced his opposition to Obama's health care plan last summer at a town hall meeting.

"Mr. Congressman, don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining," the constituent told Stark, referring to what he called the smoke and mirrors of the president's plan.

"I wouldn't dignify you be peeing on your leg," Stark fired back. "It wouldn't be worth wasting the urine."

In March, Stark seized control of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee for one day after Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., stepped aside due to an ethics probe. But Stark was quickly pushed aside in favor of Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., after many Democrats privately complained that Stark was too volatile to lead such an important committee.

Stark is known for making inflammatory comments.

In 2007, Stark accused President Bush of sending troops to Iraq "to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement."

He also once called former Colorado Republican Rep. Scott McInnis a "fruitcake."

Knowing that the vast majority of human beings are either ignorant or liars or both, you better have the best possible societal system in place...but of course we don't, and that's the real problem, because you will never change human nature.

Knowing that the vast majority of human beings are either ignorant or liars or both, you better have the best possible societal system in place...but of course we don't, and that's the real problem, because you will never change human nature.

Sheriff: $250K, AK-47 Found On Illegal Immigrant

PHOENIX -- Sheriff's deputies arrested an illegal immigrant after they seized about $250,000 in cash and three firearms during a traffic stop, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Tuesday. . Adolfo Beltran, 20, was placed in custody at the 4th Avenue Jail after the incident Saturday. Detectives said he is from Mexico.
Sheriff's detectives were watching a residence in the block of 7200 W. Montecito after a neighbor complained of a possible "drug house.”
As two vehicles left the home, detectives said they made contact with the drivers. Inside one of the vehicles, deputies said they found a large amount of cash.
The traffic stops lead to a search of the Montecito residence where more money and guns were found inside, including an AK-47 assault rifle and two handguns.
Arpaio said this type of arrest shows the connection between the financial side of drugs and illegal immigration.