Thread: Lawmakers Call For Border 'Tipping' Inquiry

http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3853667

Article Launched: 05/23/2006 12:00:00 AM PDT

Lawmakers call for border 'tipping' inquiry
By Sara A. Carter, Staff Writer

Twenty-one congressional leaders have called for an independent investigation into reports that officials from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were providing information to the Mexican government about civilian patrol groups.
The lawmakers are asking the Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress, to look into the relationship between Homeland Security and the Mexican Foreign Consulate.

In a letter sent Monday to David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, the congressional leaders expressed concern that the Mexican Foreign Ministry is unduly influencing the federal law enforcement agency.

"Additionally, with reports that our Border Patrol officials are identifying Minutemen locations and compromising their security by communicating these with the Mexican Foreign Ministry officials, we would also like you to identify the extent of the relationship between the Department of Homeland Security and the Mexican Foreign Ministry," the letter stated.

The call for an independent investigation came on the heels of a letter sent last week by California Reps. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon, and Darryl Issa, R-Vista, along with Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, asking Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff for a full investigation into all circumstances and events related to civilian border observation groups and the Mexican government.

Texas Republican Rep. Ted Poe called for the independent investigation Monday based on a Daily Bulletin report earlier this month, which cited three Mexican government documents suggesting U.S. officials were giving out details of civilian groups' locations.

The three reports on "vigilantes" in the United States are posted on Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Relations Web site.

The third report, dated August 2005, mentioned instances of Mexican consulate officials asking U.S. Border Patrol officials to provide them with information on civilian border watch groups in the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said the Daily Bulletin's report was "inaccurate" and that Border Patrol officials are not giving the location of civilian watch groups to the Mexican government.

"Recent news reports that the U.S. Border Patrol is sharing locations of civilian border watch volunteer groups, such as the Minuteman and Friends of the Border Patrol, with the Mexican Government has caused great alarm to many members of Congress," Poe wrote in the letter to the Government Accountability Office.

Rep. Gary Miller, R-Brea, who also signed the document, added that an independent investigation was necessary.

Miller could not be reached late Monday evening. But according to information posted on his Web site, he is demanding an explanation.

"The Mexican government has come under fire recently for providing would-be illegal immigrants maps detailing where to cross the border and where to find water and rest stations along the way and guides instructing how not to get caught once in the United States," Miller stated in a press release. "Now, not only does this additional intelligence from our government nullify the effectiveness of civilian border volunteers, it could potentially endanger their lives."

Andy Ramirez, chairman of the Chino-based Friends of the Border Patrol, said an independent investigation is imperative to uncovering the truth. He said information posted in the August 2005 document on the Mexican Web site detailing his volunteer group's location near San Diego was only given to U.S. Border Patrol officials.

"It's about time," Ramirez said. "This is something that has taken place for years without our elected officials raising an eyebrow in protest. I believe this is actually only the tip of the iceberg with regard to Mexico's influence over border enforcement."

TJ Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents more than 10,000 Border Patrol agents, said agents have been complaining for years about the Mexican consulate's influence over the department.

Bonner said an independent investigation is a necessary step in exposing the "too close for comfort relationship" between Mexico and Homeland Security. "We're very pleased that an independent investigation is being called for," Bonner said. "It's important to note that this is just the first step. No. 1, I hope the truth comes out of the report. No. 2, I hope the report is acted upon. The question is: Will changes occur after they do that? Or will the DHS continue to do what they've always done?"

Twenty-one congressional leaders have called for an independent investigation into reports that officials from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were providing information to the Mexican government about civilian patrol groups.

My question is why only 21? It should be 435 representatives and 100 senators calling for an investigation.

if the government can give away locations of our citizens and with the mysterious disappearance of our social security numbers this government gets worse and worse. I wouldnt be surprised if this government was complicit in the "loss" of our data and it wouldnt suprise me if it was now in the hands of illegal aliens. This is the thanks we receive for serving our country.

if the government can give away locations of our citizens and with the mysterious disappearance of our social security numbers this government gets worse and worse. I wouldnt be surprised if this government was complicit in the "loss" of our data and it wouldnt suprise me if it was now in the hands of illegal aliens. This is the thanks we receive for serving our country.

The question being asked by many is:
"was this little heist done to take attention off of the REAL issues?"
Hmmmm?

Has merit, don't you think?

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http://www.alipac.us/article1240.html

Originally Posted by 2ndamendsis

The question being asked by many is:
"was this little heist done to take attention off of the REAL issues?"
Hmmmm?

Has merit, don't you think?

interesting thought.

Are they that corrupt?

Never mind, the answer is obvious and it is YES!

If this investigation turns up evidence that depts in our own government did inform the Mexican government, whoever is responsible should be tried for treason and hanged accordingly! There is nothing sacred to our government anymore, to think they might have gotten one of these vigelent citizens down there on the border doing the job our government refuses to do, hurt or even killed or the possibility of them having to harm or kill a Mexican in self-defense is simply outrageous and boggles the mind! I am begining to feel we no longer need a homeland security, it seems they are totally inept and unable or unwilling to carry out their own jobs, why pay this big monster?