GOLDEN, Colo. -- It's been one year since the Colorado State Patrol activated its Immigration Enforcement Unit.

During that time, troopers have processed nearly 800 illegal immigrants, several of them criminals.

"They don't specifically go out looking for illegal aliens," said Carl Rusnok, Communications Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Rusnok said troopers assigned the immigration unit enforce traffic laws first.

"If during the course of doing their normal duties they encounter immigration related issues, they're now authorized to take action," Rusnok added.

CSP is one of 59 agencies nationwide authorized to help ICE enforce immigration laws.

The unit was formed following several high profile accidents involving vans or SUVs loaded with illegal immigrants.

"I think the unit's been very successful," said Trooper Trent Hischke while patrolling Tuesday on Interstate 76 in Adams County.

Hischke is one of 19 troopers in the unit. He still remembers his first immigration case.

"It was just a normal traffic stop for speeding," he said. "We ended up filing charges on the driver and the passenger for smuggling aliens through Colorado."

Hischke said the pair was prosecuted and convicted.

"I believe they got four years in prison," he added.

During the first year of operation, troopers processed 782 undocumented foreign nationals. 183 of them were criminals. 21 were aggravated felons. They also investigated 40 cases of human smuggling and arrested 42 people.

"Ultimately the goal is to affect crime, to make our state a safer place," said unit supervisor, Sgt. John Hahn.

Rusnok added, that local law enforcement agencies are not authorized to enforce immigration law anymore than immigration officials are authorized to enforce local or traffic laws.

But state legislators passed a law in 2006 authorizing the formation of the CSP unit.

The 19 troopers and three supervisors involved have completed 5 weeks of federal training and testing.

The training tab was picked up by the Department of Homeland Security.