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Border racial profiling alleged

06:38 AM CDT on Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Associated Press

EL PASO – Saying he is worried about possible racial profiling in El Paso County, a South Texas lawmaker has asked Gov. Rick Perry to specify how the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition is permitted to spend nearly $10 million in border security grant money.

State Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, said in a letter that he was concerned that El Paso County Sheriff Leo Samaniego is using a $376,500 grant to run roadblocks and raids aimed at ferreting out illegal immigrants. He said he worried that people are being detained on a hunch that they "look" illegal. He said some residents have complained that they were asked for Social Security cards as a tactic to figure out if they were illegal immigrants.

Sheriff Samaniego denied any wrongdoing Monday.

Perry officials said the governor has not formally responded to Mr. Hinojosa's letter.

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