More than 2000 protesters gathered in Irving, Texas to protest Irving's participation in the Federal Criminal Alien Program to deport Criminal Illegal Aliens. This program allows jailers to identify suspected illegal aliens who are incarcerated and refer them to immigration authorities for deportation.

It seems that jailers in Irving, Texas have been doing this and that the Mexican Consulate, in neighboring Dallas, has issued a warning to illegal aliens that they should not travel in Irving, Texas, as they will be deported if arrested and detained.

The Mexican Consulate in Dallas, which covers half the state of Texas, says that half of the persons they have talked to in the last few weeks who are being deported were arrested in Irving, Texas. Approximately 2600 criminal aliens have been deported from Irving this year.

Protesters are accusing the Irving Police force of racially profiling Latinos for traffic stops and demanding identification for the purpose of verifying their legal residency status. Protesters also accuse police of racially profiling Latinos in apartment complex parking lots and common grounds for the same purpose. Protesters cite the hardship caused by the separation of family members when one member is deported and demand that Irving stop participation in the Federal program.

Irving Police Chief Larry Boyd states that police are not making any special effort to target Latinos in traffic stops. He states that sweeps of several high crime rate apartment complexes have been made and persons with outstanding warrants arrested due to the high crime rates in those complexes.

Police Chief Boyd also states that his officers do not identify persons by their immigration status; that suspected illegal aliens are identified as such at the jail and referred to the immigration authorities in compliance with federal law.

Irving police and city council members have investigated all complaints and found there to be no evidence to substantiate charges of racial profiling.

Officials state that Irving will continue to participate in the Criminal Alien Program which allows jailers to refer suspected illegal aliens to immigration authorities.

Illegal alien advocacy groups are asking for a boycott of businesses in Irving to force the city to stop deporting illegal aliens who have been arrested for other crimes.