U.S. notifying Mexico of civilian border patrol locations

ASSOCIATED PRESS
2:54 a.m. May 9, 2006

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Border Patrol is alerting the Mexican government to the locations of civilian border patrol groups when the organizations help detain suspected illegal immigrants or use violence against them, according to a published report.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Mario Martinez told the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin of Ontario that the policy is meant to assure the Mexican government that migrants' rights are being observed.

The policy pertains to groups including the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps and the Friends of the Border Patrol, a Chino-based nonprofit.

“It's not a secret where the Minuteman volunteers are going to be,” Martinez said Monday. “This ... simply makes two basic statements – that we will not allow any lawlessness of any type, and that if an alien is encountered by a Minuteman or arrested by the Minuteman, then we will allow that government to interview the person.”

Minuteman members, however, said the Border Patrol's policy negates the private group's effectiveness and could endanger their lives.