Thread: Mexican Consulate concerned about arrests in Irving

Mexican Consulate concerned about arrests in Irving


By PATRICK McGEE
pmcgee@star-telegram.com

More than 300 illegal immigrants are being deported every month from Irving because of the city’s increased scrutiny of the immigration status of people arrested, according to the city’s mayor.

The Mexican consul general has expressed concern after members of his staff found that half of all the Mexicans they interviewed in an immigration jail last Saturday were arrested in Irving. He said he suspects racial profiling.

But Irving officials said that last Saturday’s arrests were part of an effort to target apartment complexes with high crime rates, not illegal immigrants. The deportations came from the jail staff’s efforts to identify people who should be referred to federal immigration officials.

Dispute over arrests

Residents at the Willows Apartments, where arrests have been made, said people were grilling food, sitting outside and talking in the apartments’ common area when police approached from different directions about 8 p.m. A few residents were drinking alcohol, they said.

Jose, 31, from Mexico, said he dashed across the street. Jose Carlos, 26, from El Salvador, said he ran into his apartment and slammed the door shut, like many other people did, and refused to open it despite banging by police.

“If we opened the door, they would have taken us away,â€

All illegal aliens should be arrested and deported.