Mexican consulate says it will check on Rio Rancho ICE detainees
Agents detained an undetermined number of Mexican nationals in the Los Diamantes neighborhood on Nov. 5, according to Consul Patricia Sanchez.
By Marta Gray ·
Residents in the Los Diamantes area of Rio Rancho woke up to masked immigration agents on the morning of Nov. 5. The Mexican Consulate in Albuquerque confirmed that arrests took place, though officials have not yet released a specific count of individuals taken into custody.
The operation unfolded in a residential zone where new construction is currently underway. Social media posts circulated photos and video of the scene, prompting inquiries from the public. Consul Patricia Sanchez stated that her office only handles cases involving Mexican nationals. She noted that other nationalities fall outside the Consulate’s jurisdiction.
Sanchez explained the procedural steps following an arrest. "The Mexican Consulate must be notified by ICE when Mexican Nationals are taken in," she said. "When we are notified, we then send staff to the ICE office to interview the detainees and make sure their rights are not violated. We also follow up with the families of those detained and ensure communication is not broken."
Detainees are initially processed in the community where they are apprehended. They are then transported to the ICE office in El Paso. Sanchez added that Consulate staff often do not interview the individuals until they arrive in Texas, closer to the border.
Rio Rancho Police Capt. Nick Army, the department’s public information officer, clarified the local law enforcement role. He stated that the Rio Rancho Police Department was never notified of the activity and had no involvement in the arrests.
