LA JOYA, Tex. (AP) — A Texas state trooper who fired on a pickup truck from a helicopter during a deadly chase through the desert was trying to disable the vehicle and suspected that it was being used to smuggle drugs, the authorities said.The disclosure on Friday came a day after the episode, which left two illegal immigrants from Guatemala dead on a gravel road near here, just north of the Mexican border.

Eight people were arrested; most were from Guatemala. Investigators said no drugs were found.

In a controversial case that involved the rights of illegal immigrants and their young children, a Guatemalan mother lost her effort today to get back the five-year old son who was taken away from her after her arrest on immigration charges and put up for adoption in Missouri despite her objections.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reached its highest number yet of companies audited for undocumented immigrants on their payrolls this past fiscal year. Audits of employer I-9 forms increased from 250 in fiscal year 2007 to more than 3,000 in 2012. From fiscal years 2009 to 2012, the total amount of fines grew to nearly $13 million from $1 million. The number of company managers arrested has increased to 238, according to data provided by ICE.

As Ian always says, don't call them "illegal" immigrants.