A spokesman for the Mexican Consulate of Dallas says police in North and East Texas profiled illegal immigrants and exceeded their authority in checking the immigrants' residency status.
Consulate officials blamed the increased scrutiny on "Operation Wrangler," a plan announced last week by Gov. Rick Perry to crack down on drug and human smuggling along the Mexican border with coordinated law enforcement throughout the state.
Eduardo Rea Falcon, a Consulate spokesman, said Mexican officials believe 33 of 47 men, women and children held over the weekend at a federal immigration center in Dallas were profiled by police
The immigrants were picked up in Fort Worth, Weatherford, Marshall and Denton County. Rea said they were stopped for traffic violations, asked for immigration papers and handed over to federal officials for deportation.
Rea said it's illegal for local law enforcement officials to ask for people's immigration papers.
"The only ones who can determine immigration status are immigration officials," he said.
Governor's Office spokeswoman Katherine Cesinger said Operation Wrangler is aimed at border crime and does not target illegal immigrants.
Jean Dark, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Public Safety in Tyler, said 13 immigrants were detained when state troopers pulled over two cars outside Marshall for minor traffic infractions. State troopers referred the group to immigration officials, she said.
Dark said a state trooper can use information obtained during a traffic stop as probable cause to call immigration officials to the scene.
Dallas County Sheriff's spokesman Michael Ortiz said the agency is participating in Operation Wrangler, including an increase in highway patrols Jan. 21-28. But he said that no illegal immigrants were arrested or handed over to federal officials as part of the effort.
"We recovered five stolen vehicles, made three arrests ... and issued several citations but did not find any drugs, smugglers or aliens," he said.
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