Even when undocumented individuals are employed, their positions are often precarious.

Police officers ask those they arrest about their immigration status and refer undocumented individuals to federal authorities.

This stipulation was added because under the recently adopted Proposition 187 undocumented individuals were barred from publicly financed employment services - a central piece of the Clara House program.

Responding to the first national legalization program for undocumented individuals in 1986, Catholic Charities New York took the lead in helping the undocumented achieve legal status.

Victims, including undocumented individuals, are eligible for services and immigration assistance.

Denial of public benefits to undocumented individuals is believed to remove the incentives and rewards for illegal immigrants.

The client community included a high number of welfare recipients, was majority white and female with some regional differences and included some undocumented individuals, elderly, non-working poor and prisoners.

"I have two undocumented individuals who are murder victims," Chief Ortiz said.

Only New Jersey and Colorado place restrictions on undocumented individuals or foreigners, Mr. Afran said.

For their part, he said: "Princeton Township police officers are not looking for undocumented individuals.