Amid increased ICE activity, Mexican Consul General in Phoenix says his office remains a trusted resource

As many state politicians and law enforcement agencies have remained silent or flat-out denied the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Valley, Jorge Mendoza Yescas, the Consul General of Mexico in Phoenix, confirmed that there has been an increase in ICE operations, and because of that, the consulate remains a resource to Mexican families impacted by them.

Since May, increased activity from federal agents targeting immigrants has been observed across the Valley, starting at the Phoenix Immigration Court and extending to Home Depot and Walmart parking lots, as well as Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa residential neighborhoods. 

How ICE operates in the Valley has remained under the radar, unlike in larger metropolitan areas such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, often leading to local police involvement. However, many agencies have denied collaborating with the federal agency.

Immigration agents were seen and caught on video throughout the Valley since May. Agents were spotted at Danelle Plaza, a Tempe strip mall located near Mill and Southern avenues, in June.

The Tempe Police Department released a statement confirming ICE was present and executed a federal warrant, but said they had no involvement in the operation. “We respect the community’s thoughts and feelings on this issue,” the statement read. “We remain committed to supporting safe demonstrations. We recognize and respect the constitutional rights of everyone to exercise free speech.”

In early June, ICE agents were seen in a neighborhood working alongside the Peoria Police Department near 67th and Peoria avenues in what the agencies stated was a drug operation being carried out by Homeland Security Investigations.

Phoenix police has also denied working with ICE as the department came under community scrutiny for its facilitation of arrests and use of immigration detainers during a Phoenix City Council meeting in late June, even when Mayor Kate Gallego promised the city would not assist in Trump’s mass deportation plans.

The elevated raids stem from the 3,000 daily arrest quota requested in May by the Trump administration. Since then, ICE operations have increased by 250%, according to a CBS News analysis of data provided by the Department of Homeland Security. Of the more than 59,000 detained, only about 8% had been convicted of violent crimes.

“Yes, there are many more operations than there were before January of this year,” Mendoza Yesca said in an interview with CALÓ News. “We were looking closely at about 10 people arrested daily in the Phoenix area and in Arizona in general… now we're talking about 50 people detained,” he said in terms of daily ICE arrests.

According to Mendoza Yescas, the enforcement situation in Phoenix differs from that in Los Angeles. The number of undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles is much higher than in Arizona, he said. He also believes California is being targeted as a political move by the Trump administration. 

Mendoza Yescas said there are estimates of about 300,000 people who are undocumented living in Arizona.

In Arizona, detentions have increased by about 113%, resulting in over 2,900 arrests since Jan. 20, a New York Times analysis shows.

“Before January, before the current administration, they had very specific targets, people with criminal records or deportations that couldn’t be helped,” he said. “They're going after those targets now, but if there are people who are undocumented, even if they don't have criminal records or final deportation orders or any trace of them in the system, they're also taking them.”

ICE is working diligently around the clock to meet Trump’s deportation quotas, which means anyone who is undocumented is at risk of being detained, he said.

Looking at the bigger picture, Mendoza Yescas said he worries about the economic impact these detentions and deportations will have on Arizona.

“Who will do the work that the other seven million people don't want to or can't?” he questioned.

How the Consulate General of Mexico can help those detained by ICE

Family members or friends of those detained can file a report through the Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix or in their nearest major city. 

The Mexican government office is able to receive information about a person’s detainment by directly inquiring with ICE and HSI or any other agencies involved, Mendoza Yescas said, as it has a direct relationship with federal authorities.

“It's not the same as a lawyer or any other state or city authority requesting that information. For us, as a foreign agency accredited by the United States Department of State, we have the opportunity to obtain information indirectly, especially with ICE, an agency that is very guarded about everything it does and doesn't share the necessary information,” Mendoza Yescas said. 

However, even though the consulate can inform a detained person about their rights, it may not be enough to stop their detention.

“I can tell you, ‘these are your rights: keep quiet, demand an arrest warrant, show it to me’… The truth, these are technicalities. When we're in that situation, we'll forget everything. It's the truth,” he said.

He advised individuals at risk to have the contact information of a trusted person who is a permanent resident or U.S. citizen and to notify them in the event of detention. These trusted individuals could then reach out to the consulate and provide the information regarding the detention.

The consulate can assist in finding a lawyer and reach out to ICE about a person’s case and if there are possibilities of release within the U.S. Should that person be deported, the consulate can assist with repatriation programs in Mexico.

It is very important to document everything as much as possible, Mendoza Yescas said.

A report can be filed about a person’s detainment through the consulate’s 24/7 hotline number at (602) 330-3642.