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As widespread immigrant raids in Southern California led to known numbers of arrests, the Mexican consulate in Los Angeles said it could help track undocumented immigrants detained by federal agents.
With workplace immigration operations beginning to be made public in the Los Angeles area nearly two weeks ago, many families said they were upset for up to 72 hours without knowing where their loved ones are or if they are safe.
People photographed by ice agents are not registered with the detention center system until a few days later, due to the heavy backlog of the federal immigration system, which involves active detention of undocumented people, including those without criminal history.
“What I saw is that all these (detention) centers are run almost with capacity,” Gonzalez told NBC Los Angeles, adding that officials at the LA office will no longer be able to visit the Los Angeles Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles after closing June 6th.
Gonzalez said the Los Angeles Consulate confirmed the arrests and identities of at least 77 Mexican immigrants.
“Mexican citizens detained – moved to Adelanto, an hour away from San Bernardino and Santa Ana,” the consul said.
His office cannot visit people in LA detention facilities, but for those trying to see if their loved one is in federal detention, the best way is to use the hotline at 520-623-7874.
“It doesn’t matter where your loved one is destined. This relates to the entire network of 53 consulates Mexico has in the United States,” Gonzalez added, saying the hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For consulate officials near open detention centres, they visit detainees twice a day to check their physical condition and well-being while obtaining information about the detainee’s family and relatives.
“We make sure they have legal representation,” Gonzalez said. “Our priorities are those who want to fight the removal process and those who want a day in court that they have the opportunity to do that.”
The Consul General said he perceived undocumented Mexicans by avoiding going to work or doctors’ offices for fear of immigration agents, but he encouraged people to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
“Panic is a great paralyzer, so they should not allow their lives to be done by fear,” he said. “They need to get legal information in order. They need to get financial education information so they can manage their money remotely if they need it.”
Gonzalez also urged people to update all documents for themselves and their children while still calm.
“They have to face reality. Things have changed,” he added.
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