The new role of FBI agents and their ability to detain any undocumented person is scaring the Latino community.

An excerpt from a government measure recently signed by Attorney General John Ashcroft read, “I authorize the FBI and its agents to exercise the duties of immigration officials to investigate, locate, and detain any foreigner that is in the United State in violation of immigration laws.”

Activists and immigrants’ rights groups have called the measure unconstitutional and are planning a formal protest.

“The new immigration policies will affect all immigrants equally and are very worrisome. The most troublesome thing is that FBI agents do not know immigration laws and could commit abuses of human and civil rights and discriminate against immigrants through racial profiling,” said Michelle Waslin, immigration law analyst for the National Council of La Raza.

According to Waslin, the new measure will facilitate the persecution of Latinos and create a climate of high surveillance not seen since the McCarthy era of the 1950s.

“A few months ago the government encouraged the nation’s population to spy on and report on their fellow citizens. The TIPS program asked mail carriers and cable company employees to report any suspicious activities to the authorities,” said Waslin.

“The Department of Justice is developing an unlimited power that will generate fear and distrust in immigrant communities in the United States,” she added.

Miguel and Ramiro, two Mexican immigrants who preferred not to reveal their last names, called the measure discriminatory and said that authorities should concentrate on identifying and arresting true terrorists instead of working people.

Latino Workers Center Director Monica Santana said, “This is the materialization of an unjust and repressive policy that has been gaining momentum since September 11th and that will not resolve the problem of national security.”

Special agent James Margolin, FBI press secretary in the New York office offered no comment but directed the media to Department of Justice Press Secretary Jorge Martinez.

Under the new measure, FBI agents will be able to detain any foreigners suspected of violating immigration laws. It is still not clear how long suspects will held without formal charges.

A confidential FBI source confirmed that even though agents have the power to detain undocumented immigrants, these actions have yet to be taken, although the policy will be implemented in the future.

At press time Martinez was unavailable to comment or provide a copy of the document.