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Border Patrol disputes news stories about reporting Minutemen activity
May 10, 2006 10:34 AM CDT

The U.S. Border Patrol is disputing news reports published Tuesday that said the Border Patrol is alerting Mexican officials when civilian border patrol groups detain or allegedly mistreat suspected illegal immigrants.

The story was originally reported by the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin of Ontario, California.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Washington, D.C., issued a statement Tuesday disputing the report.

"Border Patrol does not report activity by civilian, non-law enforcement groups to the government of Mexico," according to the statement. "During a detention of a legal or illegal immigrant that produces an allegation of improper treatment, Border Patrol reports the allegation and allows the appropriate consulate to interview the individual in custody."

"If an alien is encountered by a Minuteman or arrested by the Minuteman, then we will allow that government to interview the person," Martinez told the newspaper.

The Border Patrol's policy is meant to assure the Mexican government that migrants' rights are being observed, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Mario Martinez told the newspaper.

The Daily Bulletin's managing editor, Jeff Keating, said Tuesday the newspaper stands by its story.

Citing interviews with Border Patrol agents and documents on a Mexican government Web site, the newspaper reported agents notify Mexican authorities when members of civilian groups such as the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps apprehend or allegedly use violence against border crossers.

The report also cited three documents on the Web site of the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations that say Mexican consulates are in close contact with Border Patrol officials regarding the safety of border crossers who have been stopped by civilian groups.

T.J. Bonner, president of the Border Patrol agents' union, said members have long complained that the Mexican government has undue influence over U.S. enforcement policies.

"That's not a legitimate role for any foreign nation," Bonner said.

Martinez did not immediately return a message left Tuesday by The Associated Press, and an after-hours call to the Mexican embassy in Washington, D.C., was not immediately returned.

Minuteman members said any contact between the Border Patrol and Mexican officials negates the group's effectiveness and could endanger the lives of its members.