FRESNO, Calif. — In light of the U.S. Border Patrol’s operation in the Central Valley earlier this month, the Consulate of México in Fresno wants to inform immigrants and families of their rights, including the right to “consular notification” if detained by federal immigration enforcement agents.

When foreign nationals are arrested or detained, they must be advised of the option to have the closest consulate or the embassy notified, known as consular notification, according to the Bureau of Consular Affairs website. This applies to 58 countries, including Mexico.

“This notification has to be made as soon as possible,” said Valeria Solorio, protection and legal affairs consul at the Consulate of Mexico in Fresno. “It is recommended that it is done before giving any statement or answering any questions. And if the authority does not inform you of this right, you can request it.”

For the consulate, Solorio said, it is important that Mexican nationals know these rights in advance.

According to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, foreign governments have embassies (headquarters) in Washington, DC and consulates (branch offices) in other cities. Both embassies and consulates provide assistance to that country’s citizens in the United States.

Foreign government officials are entitled to communicate with their nationals in U.S. jails and prisons to check on their welfare and provide consular assistance. They may contact family, ensure legal representation and medical care, or provide reading materials, known as consular access.

Consular notification and access are mutual obligations based on treaties between the U.S. and foreign governments, according to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs website.

This month’s Border Patrol operation resulted in dozens of arrests in Kern County. Border Patrol officials said agents arrested people from Peru, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Ecuador and China during the operation.

Solorio said the Consulate of México in Fresno “provided consular assistance” to a relative of a detainee in the Border Patrol operation after a relative reach out for help.

Solorio said the consulate couldn’t say how many Mexican nationals were detained Border Patrol or how many exercised their consular notification rights and reached out to the consulate.

“But what I can assure you is that we did provide consular assistance, and we were in touch with their relatives, keeping them updated on anything that we had,” Solorio said.

Like Solorio, El Salvador Consul General in Fresno Wilber Aleman said he couldn’t provide information regarding now many Salvadorian nationals were detained by Border Patrol or if the consulate provided consular assistance to any of them.

The three-day operation that led to 78 arrests and happened days before the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who has promised to carry out the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history.

The immigration enforcement operations in Kern County led to rumors and rampant misinformation on social media of more deportation raids, causing panic and anxiety among undocumented people and their families.

Solorio said the Consulate of Mexico in Fresno is trying to inform Mexican nationals in the Central Valley of their rights through several campaigns and services.

“We are working tirelessly to protect their rights,” Solorio said.

The consulate provides information to Mexican nationals about their rights if they are detained or arrested by an immigration or a law enforcement officer and provide recommendations on how to handle those interactions.

Solorio said if someone who is undocumented is detained, “they have the right to remain silent, they have the right to contact their consulate, and they have the right to also contact an attorney.”

“It is recommended that they, at all times, act respectfully with that authority, to not flee, to request an interpreter, and — especially — to not sign any documents that they do not understand,” Solorio said.

The consulate also has a specialized call center — Centro de Información y Asistencia a Personas Mexicanas, or CIAM — that operates 24/7 and is the first point of contact for those who require consular assistance.

There is also an emergency number at the consulate for those who live in the Central Valley and need consular assistance.

The consulate is also partnering with nonprofit organizations and attorneys to provide immigration workshops to provide immigration consultations of general matters to the community.

In addition a Saturday workshop, every first Monday of the month the consulate offers legal consultations in immigration matters. The consulate collaborates with nonprofit organizations accredited by the Department of Justice to provide services like DACA renewals, residency applications and citizenship evaluations.

The Consulate of México in Fresno serves 1.5 million Mexican nationals residing in the Central Valley, and covers eight counties in the area including Mariposa, Merced, Madera, Inyo, Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern.

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