The Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix has issued a public advisory informing Mexican nationals that the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is collaborating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Queen Creek and San Tan Valley, Arizona.
The notice was shared on social media after families in Maricopa County reported detentions to the consulate and urged community members to carry valid identification, remain calm when interacting with authorities, avoid the affected areas unless necessary, and contact the consulate for assistance.
“With the goal of safeguarding your security and avoiding setbacks,” the message read, the consulate recommended Mexican nationals take precautions and make use of its 24/7 emergency phone line.
A spokesperson for the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office told local KJZZ that the agency has not changed its policies or guidance when working with federal partners, stating that deputies use discretion in deciding when to contact federal officials, including during traffic stops. The consulate said it remains available to support Mexican nationals regardless of immigration status.
The alert follows months of increased immigration enforcement activity across the Phoenix area. In a July interview with Caló News, Consul General Jorge Mendoza Yescas said ICE operations had grown significantly since January, describing what he called a sharp rise in arrests and noting that community reports showed agents operating at immigration courts, big-box store parking lots, and in residential neighborhoods across Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, and elsewhere.
Mendoza Yescas estimated that arrests in Arizona had risen from roughly 10 people per day to about 50, adding that ICE’s current efforts differ from prior targeted enforcement. According to him, individuals without criminal records or deportation orders had also been detained.
Mendoza Yescas added a the time that the consulate had maintained communication channels with ICE and Homeland Security Investigations, allowing it to seek information about people in custody that may not be available to legal representatives or local authorities. He emphasized, however, that even when the consulate informs detainees of their rights, “it may not be enough to stop their detention.”
The consulate has continued to advise families to document detentions and ensure that anyone at risk has a trusted contact in the United States who can notify consular officials. In cases of deportation, the consulate offers assistance with repatriation programs in Mexico.
Originally published on Latin Times
