Beatriz Alvarado, and John C Moritz

Corpus Christi

A U.S. congressman confirmed Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids are part of an operation that spans through south and central Texas.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro tweeted and took to Facebook Friday afternoon expressing his concern regarding peppered reports of raids throughout the state.

Castro said the agency's San Antonio field office has "launched a targeted operation."

"I'm asking ICE to clarify whether these individuals are in fact dangerous, violent threats to our communities, and not people who are here peacefully raising families and contributing to our state," Castro's statement reads. "I will continue to monitor this situation."

Justin Tullius, managing attorney for the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services’ South Texas branch, said he's familiar with Operation Cross Check.

"It's ICE's name for a recurring operation to arrest people in the community with criminal conviction or deportation orders," Tullius said.

In the past, that's included those with years old convictions and people who may have missed a court date.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association issued a statement saying it has learned the operation focuses on three populations: fugitives, or anyone with an outstanding order of removal; individuals who reentered after they were deported; and "criminal aliens," or those with a criminal conviction.

Castro's statement about the latest raids came as teachers in the Austin school district handed out information to students with tips on what to do if ICE agents visited their homes or questioned them, according to an Austin American-Statesman report.

An ICE spokeswoman released a statement to the Caller-Times noting that while the agency won't confirm the existence of any operation prior to its completion that all enforcement activities "are conducted with the same level of professionalism and respect that ICE officers exhibit every day."

Targeted enforcement operations are done regularly to apprehend "deportable foreign nationals."

"Reports of ICE checkpoints and sweeps are false, dangerous and irresponsible. These reports create mass panic and put communities and law enforcement personnel in unnecessary danger," according to the ICE statement. "Any groups falsely reporting such activities are doing a disservice to those they claim to support."

State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, an Austin Democrat whose district is nearly 63 percent Hispanic, has been in touch with Congressman Castro's office and is concerned about the reports he's received, a spokesman said.

"We are reminding our constituents to stay vigilant, and to know their rights in case they have any encounters with ICE officers," said Alejandro Pena in Rodriguez's district office at the Texas Capitol. "This is something we'll be watching all weekend. It's an all-hands-on-deck situation."

Like Castro, Austin Councilman Greg Casar also took to the social media to discuss the raids. In a Facebook post he noted that he'd confirmed that in the past 24 hours ICE agents had shown an added presence in Austin, specifically in the North Lamar and Rundberg area.

Casar added he planned to speak to residents of his district to ensure "constituents are aware of their rights." He also asked for bilingual volunteers.

"ICE actions like these are beyond reprehensible. They instill fear in the community, and they make everyday people fear for their lives," Casar wrote in the post.

Immigrant rights

Everyone living in the United States has certain basic rights under the U.S. Constitution. Undocumented immigrants have these rights, too:

You have the right to remain silent.

You may refuse to speak to immigration officers.

You have the right to speak to a lawyer.

Before you sign anything, talk to a lawyer.

To be allowed to enter your home, Immigration and Customs Enforcement must have a warrant signed by a judge.

Always carry with you any valid immigration document you have.

Source: National Immigration Law Center