Starting in January 2005 the Mexican government has conducted a full-court press against the Minuteman Project - a citizen group calling attention to enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.
Agents of the government of Vicente Fox have conducted an ongoing series of meetings with the President of the United States, Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Border Patrol among others, with the intent of forcing American officials to maintain a policy of non-enforcement of U.S. border regulations and at the same time putting pressure on the Minuteman organization - a major proponent of increased border enforcement - to thwart its activities.
On February 10, 2005 the Mexican government sent a diplomatic note of protest to the U.S. Department of State excoriating the Minuteman Project as a group of vigilantes and demanding that the U.S. government take steps to ensure that the "rights" of Mexican nationals under state and federal laws be protected.
This follows a line reasoning set forth by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights’ "Convention on Migrant Workers, as promoted by Mexico and which the SER uses to condemn the U.S.
In early Spring of 2005 the Mexican SER directed all U.S. based Mexican consulates to conduct surveillance on border activists including those involved in the Minuteman Project, to interact with all levels of the leadership of American institutions involved with border enforcement including law enforcement, and transmit that information back to the Fox government.
Whereas it was believed that this activity was only taking place in limited areas the documents make it clear that Mexican consulates have been active in a massive surveillance and information gathering program throughout the United States - in Arizona, California, Texas, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Illinois, Massachusetts and Tennessee, detailing the activities and identifying American citizens and border activist groups by name and reporting back to Mexican authorities.
The following an example of the toadying response by American officials, including State governors and Border Patrol officials.
As these documents and others are more fully understood an alarming picture is becoming clear.
Not only is the American government failing to maintain any semblance of border control and security, but it appears that there is active cooperation between American officials - at all levels, federal, state and local, and the government of Vicente Fox to provide intelligence on American citizens to that foreign government with the intent of undercutting enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.
First Report On The Activities Of The Minuteman Project
URL - http://www.sre.gob.mx/eventos/minuteman/reporte1.htm#3.3
The Government of Mexico condemns the vigilantismo activities that citizens of the United States make in the border. Although it is sovereign faculty of any State to take the measures necessary to assure the protection his borders and the fulfillment of their dispositions in migratory matter, these activities correspond only and exclusively to the competent authorities of the States.
Since knowledge was had of which a group of civilians tried to organize itself to make monitoring workings in the border with the objective to avoid the crossing of undocumented immigrants, the Government of Mexico expressed publicly his sentence and initiated diverse actions with authorities from the United States to effect of:
? to assure the respect to the rights Mexican nationals who, in their case, cross the border between the Arizona and Sonora states in the zone where the volunteers of the project presumably they will make monitoring activities;
? to promote the total observance of the own American and international, same frame legal that consecrates rights for the foreigners who enter the United States, still without the required migratory documentation; and
? to ask for to the competent authorities of that country the unfolding of preventive actions that, with attachment to the American legal frame, allow to avoid a possible incident in that zone of the border.
Activities of the Minuteman group
In January of 2005, the self-appointed group Minuteman Project carried out a public meeting in Tombstone, Arizona, to present its objectives and to recruit volunteers. In agreement with declarations of the organizers, they managed to reunite companies of 1.022 volunteers, including some pilots with airships.
At first, some of the organizers had showed that they would stop undocumented people who went into in that country by the border. When public becoming the strategy of the government of Mexico, the declarations of the organizers of Minuteman were modified of certain form and clarified that its only objective would be to detect the undocumented people and to inform to the Border Patrol of the United States for its halting.
the 1 of April, in Tombstone, around one hundred volunteers was registered to the Minuteman. Of simultaneous way, they also concurred in that city a great number of representatives of mass media, as well as members of defending social organizations of human rights and civilians, who pronounced themselves against the activities of the Minuteman and indicated that they would remain in the zone to verify that trasgresiones to the law or violations to the fundamental rights of migrantes were not committed.
Both following days, 2 and 3 of April, the members of Minuteman made manifestations before the facilities of the Border Patrol in Douglas and Naco, Arizona. As of Monday 4, they initiated activities of monitoring in reduced groups, throughout approximately four kilometers of the border line between Naco and Douglas.
Actions of the Government of Mexico in the diplomatic scope
In January, the Secretariat of Outer Relations maintained to consultations on the subject with the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Internal Security.
In February, the Secretariat of Outer Relations sent a Diplomatic Note to the government of the United States, in which it express preoccupation by the activities of the Minuteman project and the managements of the Department of State are asked for in order that the competent dependencies take forecasts to avoid that federal and state laws in damage of our connacionales are violated. The subject was boarded also, in Washington D.C. at level of Chancellors.
In March, the Ambassador of Mexico in the United States entrevistó with the Head of the Border Patrol of the Department of Internal Security, in order to ask for its intervention. Also, in occasion of the work visit that the Secretary of State of the United States made to Mexico, the position of Mexico on the part of the Secretary of Outer Relations was expressed him again.
In that same month, in the City of Mexico, during the meeting of work which they maintained civil employees of the Secretariats of Interior and Outer Relaciones of Mexico with diverse civil employees of the Department of Internal Security, including the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection and the Head of the Border Patrol, the Mexican delegation reiterated the position of our government.
During the encounter which they maintained the Presidents of Mexico and the United States, in Waco, Texas, the President of the Republic expressed to its homologous American the preoccupation of its government by the subject and asked for the intervention of the competent authorities.
Answer of the Government of the United States
Civil employees of the Department of Internal Security has offered the securities of which that corporation does not support, in form some, the activities of monitoring made by individuals and it will not reduce violations to the law.
the diplomatic note presented/displayed the 10 of February, was answered by the Department of State assuring that the government of the United States will guard by the respect of the rights of any foreigner within his territory.
On the other hand, President George W. Bush declared in Waco, Texas, during the joint press conference with the agent chief executives of Mexico and Canada: "I am against watchmen in the United States of America. I am in favor of enforcing the law in a rational way. For that reason it is that an Border Patrol exists, and this one must enforce the law in the border ".
the 31 of March, the spokesman of the Border Patrol of the United States, Samuel Zamora, indicated that the Minuteman represents a distraction for the Border Patrol that it prevents him to exert its work. She added that the one that people take the law "in her own hands is what we are not going to tolerate". She also commented that in case that haltings on the part of individuals appear, these last ones will have to face positions in his against.
interinstitutional Coordination
During the months of March and diverse April has taken place meetings between civil employees of Mexican institutions with presence in that zone of the border, with the intention of coordinating tendientes actions to prevent any incident from the Mexican side with the border, particularly arisen on the part of tie people to the organized crime or of gangs. The meetings also have had the objective to evaluate the measures to adopt before possible blockades of the border ports on the part of competing demonstrators to the activities of the volunteers of the Minuteman and to preserve the order and the tranquillity in the region.
the 1 of April was carried out a meeting with the participation of representatives of the different agencies from the order, as much of Mexico as of the United States, in which connections of communication between these agencies settled down, with the intention to count on opportune information on any incident that put in risk the public order and to avoid any trasgresión or violation to the law.
Coordination SRE-SEGOB
During the months of March and April has been carried out several meetings of coordination between civil employees of both dependencies, in order to detect any violation that was gotten to commit as a result of the activities of border monitoring of the members of the Minuteman against Mexican nationals.
With that objective remembered reinforce the personnel of the National Institute of Migration and the Groups Water Beta Prieta and Naco, Sonant, to make the procedures more expeditious of repatriation. Also, instructions were turned to them to interview all the nationals which they were repatriated and to report to the National Institute of Migration and the Consulate in Douglas any complaint or denunciation of aggression, I mistreat or humiliation of which had been object at the moment and during its halting, specially in case that this halting had become by individuals.
Consular Actions
By instructions of the Secretariat of Outer Relations, the consulates of Mexico in Arizona is kind to any possible violation of the rights of Mexican nationals.
the holders of the Consulates of Mexico in Arizona (Phoenix, Walnuts, Tucson, Douglas and Yuma) has made similar managements with authorities of Arizona (the Governor and State Solicitor), with federal authorities with jurisdiction in the state (Fiscal Federal and the ones in charge of the diverse sectors of the Border Patrol) and with municipal authorities.
the Secretariat of Outer Relations has established an agreement of collaboration with the Center of Human rights and Constitutional Right of the United States, in order to identify the legal actions that can be undertaken, with base to the own American legal frame, against the individuals that commit abuses that affect the Mexican migrantes. This study has been given to the legal consultants of the consulates.
has settled down direct channels of communication between consular personnel of Mexico in Arizona and the Border Patrol, in order to guarantee the exchange of information, the consular access to the lengthy migrantes and the respect to their rights.
the Chief of a main directorate of Protection and Consular Subjects went commissioner to travel to the city of Douglas, Arizona, and to supervise of direct form the preventive workings and protection that our consulates make in that state. Also, the Consulate of Mexico in Douglas has been reinforced with additional personnel.
has asked for the chiefs of the stations of the Border Patrol in Douglas and Naco, Arizona, that the consulate is informed into all and each one of the possible apprehensions of Mexican migrantes made by members of the Minuteman group and was requested that it is allowed consular personnel to interview all the prisoners before they are repatriated.
the General Consulate in Phoenix has reinforced its communication with the competent authorities of the State of Arizona. Consular
Reporte
In agreement with the information provided by the Consulate of Mexico in Douglas, Arizona, registered approximately one hundred volunteers of Minuteman in the meeting that took place first of April in Tombstone. A great number also appeared, around 120, of printed and electronic mass media representatives.
the personnel of the Consulate in Douglas has maintained in constant communication with the liaisons and supervisors of the stations of the Border Patrol of Naco and Douglas, as well as with bailiffs of the office of the Sheriff de Cochise and the police of Naco and Douglas, that confirmed that until now it has not had reports some of apprehensions of undocumented people carried out by the members of Minuteman.
the watchmen who were bet throughout the border strip, to the east of the port of entrance of Naco, moved three miles to the east of Naco in the direction of Douglas. According to the consular reports, they appeared around 40 individuals that, making use of binoculars, they tried to detect to undocumented migrantes.
Is evident that, at any moment, the Border Patrol and other corporations have maintained a close control of the activities of the volunteers of Minuteman, which surely has contributed to the absence of incidents.
In the period between 5 and 11 of April did not report incidents in the place where his the volunteers of Minuteman locate. Near them they remain some units of the Border Patrol and the Department of the Sheriff of the County of Cochise.
From the 6 of April, the number of the members of the Minuteman has diminished significantly. It is reported that in the contiguous area to the dividing line 15 and 23 volunteers of Minuteman and several "legal observers" of trained by American Civil Liberty Union have entered themselves between (ACLU), who monitorean to the watchmen to document any possible violation to the human rights of the undocumented people, and who carry a white t-shirt with a legend in red which he says "legal observers".
the Border Patrol has showed publicly its annoyance because the volunteers of Minuteman activate control sensors and cause false alarms that mobilize without sense to the elements of the corporation.
From the 6 of April, also diminished very significantly the presence of mass media representatives.
Possible legal routes in case of appearing abuses
the legal figures that can be used against civilians who violate the rights of our connacionales in the border go from which talk about hardly to cuantificables damages (emotional damage) to which are in severe damage corporal or death. The government of Mexico will support the demands that, in their case, appear by the activities of the vigilantismo groups. Its tipificación can be the following one:
1. - To cause intentionally distresses or emotional damage. - It can be invoked to ask for repair or compensation when damage or substantive alteration to the tranquillity state or mental peace of the affected one have existed.
2. - False arrest or false imprisonment. - One talks about to the halting of a person without his consent and legal authority for it.
3. - Assault, aggressions or death. - An illicit action in which another person is injured physically by another one commonly is denominated assault or injuries. The assault talks about the injury threat; whereas the term aggressions (battery) talks about the corporal contact not wished that it produces physical damage.
4. - Vicarious responsibility (shared). - When it is evident that individual associated groups of watchmen they have caused a reconocible injury, is due to determine if the organizations and/or their leaders of those organizations can also be responsible by the injuries for the plaintiff.
Activities of the American authorities
the authorities of the United States of the diverse present orders of government in the zone has inhibited, through actions of monitoring and constant patrolling, trasgresiones to the law and has offered their collaboration for the protection workings that have carried out the consular personnel.
Precisions on presumed incidents
? Case of presumed halting of Jose Antonio Aboytes by individuals
the 6 of April, the Consulate of Mexico in Douglas received the warning from the Naco station of the Border Patrol of the United States of the halting of the connacional Jose Antonio Aboytes original Sepúlveda of Obregón City, Sonant. On the matter, the Consul of Mexico in Douglas met with the Supervisor of the Naco station of the Border Patrol, with the Office of Sheriff de Cochise and entrevistó to the connacional.
Ed Go'mez, Supervisor of the Naco station, explained the Consul in Douglas that the facts happened around the 13:00 hrs. of same the 6 of April, near the town of Palominas, Arizona. Two volunteers of the Minuteman group were near the highway #92 when they saw Mr. Aboytes, called it and they gave food, water, $20 USD and one playera him with a legend ironic, but offensive. The Supervisor Go'mez referred that later the connacional was stopped by an agent of the Border and transferred Patrol to the Naco station. Anyway, the fact was reported to sheriff of the County of Cochise.
the Office of the Sheriff of the County of Cochise designated to a specialized civil employee to lead the investigations. This civil employee obtained a video recorded by the members of Minuteman that includes the development of the facts related by the involved people. This video has been under safekeeping of the Office of the Sheriff. The spokeswoman of the Office of the Sheriff declared that the investigations will stay and that as soon as a report is had, this one will be sent to the office of the Solicitor of the County for her revision.
In the interview that the Consul of Mexico made, Mr. Aboytes related that it crossed the border from the last Saturday and that after days to be walking, decided to return to Mexico by highway 92 with the idea of being gathered by the Border and repatriated Patrol to Mexico. The connacional explained that it went the one who requested both to subject that he found in his way which they called to the Border Patrol.
the connacional was sent to Tucson where it will remain under safekeeping before the possibility that the Federal Solicitor requires of his testimony.
Although the information available does not allow us to conclude that it is a case of apprehension of a connacional on the part of individuals, the investigations follow their course and the Consul of Mexico in Douglas stays in constant contact with involved the federal and local authorities in these investigations.
? Mexican stopped to the interior of military installations of the Huachuca Fort
the 3 of April, the Delegation of the National Institute of Migration of Naco, Sonant, reported to the Consulate of Mexico in Douglas, Arizona that 12 of the migrantes that had been repatriated to Mexican territory by that locality, had declared "to be stopped by paramilitary". As soon as it was counted on the list of the names of the connacionales that had showed the previous thing, the consulate made a management before the Naco station of the Border Patrol, that clarified that these people had been apprehended by the Military police of the Huachuca Fort, since they had entered lands of this military base.
? Videoclip of the chain Fox News was misinterpreted by some means that concluded that they appear supposed volunteers of Minuteman apprehending to undocumented people. The Consulate of Mexico in Douglas has been able to confirm, even with the agencies of the competent United States, that the first person whom the halting is making and the registry of the presumed immigrant that appears in the video, is an official of the Border Patrol, specifically of group SRT (Special Response Team). Inclusively, to the bottom of videoclip a vehicle with the signaling of the Border Patrol is noticed. Also, like it is possible to be appreciated in the video, the person who makes the halting carries the type of organic armament of the Border Patrol. It is possible to emphasize that the videos were reviewed by the Consul of Mexico in Douglas with Joe agent Hernandez, of the Douglas station of the Border Patrol, that also belongs to the SRT. This agent provided to the consulate the jacket of his uniform of field and it was possible to be stated that the uniforms are identical. With regards to the femenine person that carry a red t-shirt, and that in another one of the takings of Fox News appears apprehending an individual, the woman it was identified like Agent Rebecca Pichardo. This civil employee is member of the Borstar group, that carries red t-shirts.
Second Report On The Activities Of The Minuteman Project
URL - http://www.sre.gob.mx/eventos/minuteman/reporte2.htm#3.3
Index
1, Position of the Government of Mexico
2, Objetivos of the actions undertaken by the Government of Mexico
3, Li'neas of work
3,1 Actions in the diplomatic scope
3,2 Actions in the consular scope
3,3 Possible legal routes in case of appearing abuses 3,4
interinstitutional and intergovernmental Coordination 4,
Respuesta of the Government of the United States 5,
Descripcion of the activities of the called group Minuteman
6, Incidentes
7, Consideraciones 7,1
Extension of the Minuteman Project
7,2 Other groups 7.2.1
Arizona
7.2.2 California
8, Lines of action
Second report of activities on the call Project Minuteman 4 of May of 2005
1, Position of the Government of Mexico
the Government of Mexico reiterates its sentence the vigilantismo activities that citizens of the United States make in the border. Although it is sovereign faculty of any State to take the measures necessary to assure the protection his borders and the fulfillment of their dispositions in migratory matter, these activities correspond only and exclusively to the competent authorities of the States.
2, Objetives of the actions undertaken by the Government of Mexico
Since knowledge was had of which a group of civilians tried to organize itself to make monitoring workings in the border with the objective to avoid the crossing of undocumented immigrants, the Government of Mexico expressed publicly, through official notice no. 51 of the Secretariat of Outer Relations of the 29 of March, its sentence and initiated diverse actions with authorities from the United States to effect of:
? to assure the respect to the rights Mexican nationals who, in their case, cross the border between the Arizona and Sonora states in the zone where the volunteers of the project presumably they will make monitoring activities;
? to promote the total observance of the own American and international, same frame legal that consecrates rights for the foreigners who enter the United States, still without the required migratory documentation; and
? to ask for to the competent authorities of that country the unfolding of preventive actions that, with attachment to the
American legal frame, allow to avoid a possible incident in that zone of the border.
3, Li'neas of work
3,1 Actions of the Government of Mexico in
the diplomatic scope
the 28 of January, the Secretariat of Outer Relations maintained consultations on the subject with the Commissioner of Adunas and
Border Proteccio'n of the Department of Internal Security.
the 10 of February, the Secretariat of Outer Relations sent a Diplomatic Note to the government
of the United States, in which it express preoccupation by the activities of the Minuteman project and the managements of the Department of State are asked for in
order that the competent dependencies take forecasts to avoid that federal and state laws in damage of our connacionales are violated. The 15 of February, the
subject was boarded also, in Washington D.C. at level of Chancellors.
the 7 of March, the Ambassador of Mexico in the United States entrevistó with the
Head of the Border Patrol of the Department of Internal Security, in order to ask for its intervention. Also, the 9 of March, in occasion of the work visit that the
Secretary of State of the United States made to Mexico, were again expressed him the position of Mexico on the part of the Secretary of Outer Relations.
the 17 of March, in the City of Mexico, during the meeting of work which they maintained civil employees of the Secretariats of Interior and Outer Relaciones of
Mexico with diverse civil employees of the Department of Internal Security, including the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection and the Head of the
Border Patrol, the Mexican delegation reiterated the position of our government.
During the encounter which they maintained the Presidents of Mexico and
the United States, in Waco, Texas, the 23 of March, the President of the Republic expressed to its homologous American the preoccupation of its government by the
subject and asked for the intervention of the competent authorities.
Also, the Chancellery presented, the 19 of April, that within the framework of the 61
Period of Sessions of the Commission of Human rights of the Organization of United Nations, Mexico presented/displayed the case of the haltings on the part of
individuals. In two paragraphs of the resolution, approved by consensus, one is urgent to all the States that they promote and they adopt effective measures to apply
its laws of immigration and to come up that particular or groups of individuals they make acts reserved to the governmental officials, as well as to persecute and to
punish the violations to the laws that are from these acts.
3,2 Actions in the consular scope
By instructions of the Secretariat of Outer Relations, the
five consulates of Mexico in Arizona are kind to any possible violation of the rights of Mexican nationals.
the holders of the Consulates of Mexico in Arizona
(Phoenix, Walnuts, Tucson, Douglas and Yuma) made managements with state authorities (the Governor and the State Solicitor), with federal authorities with
jurisdiction in the state (Fiscal Federal and the ones in charge of the diverse sectors of the Border Patrol) and with municipal authorities.
the Secretariat of
Outer Relations established an agreement of collaboration with the Center of Human rights and Constitutional Right of the United States, in order to identify the legal
actions that can be undertaken, with base to the own American legal frame, against the individuals that commit abuses that affect the Mexican migrantes. This study
was given to the legal consultants of the consulates.
settled down direct channels of communication between consular personnel of Mexico in Arizona and the
Border Patrol, in order to guarantee the exchange of information, the consular access to the lengthy migrantes and the respect to their rights.
the Chief of a
main directorate of Protection and Consular Subjects went commissioner to travel to the city of Douglas, Arizona, and to supervise of direct form the preventive
workings and protection that our consulates make in that state. Also, the Consulate of Mexico in Douglas was reinforced with additional personnel.
request
made to heads of stations of Patrol Border in Douglas and Naco, Arizona, so that the consulate was informed into all and each one of the possible apprehensions of
Mexican migrantes made by members of the Minuteman group and the consular access to personnel to make interviews to all the prisoners before they are
repatriated, was fulfilled in each one of the cases in which there was presumption of haltings by members of Minuteman.
When having knowledge of the
possibility that the battles conducted by the Minuteman project extended to other states of the border between the United States and Mexico, the Chancellery turned
instructions to the Consulates of the states of California, Detroit, New Mexico, Texas and Utah so that they stay kind to the development of the activities of these
groups, as well as to put themselves in contact with local authorities and to express the preoccupation of the government of Mexico by this type of actions.
In
this sense, the Embassy of Mexico in the United States stayed letter to the activities that carried out the leaders of Minuteman during their visit to Washington and it
stays monitoreando the activities of such, as well as the answers of diverse authorities and officials government.
the personnel of the Consulate in Douglas
maintained in constant communication with the liaisons and supervisors of the stations of the Border Patrol of Naco and Douglas, as well as with bailiffs of the office
of the Sheriff de Cochise and the police of Naco and Douglas.
3.3 Possible legal routes in case of appearing abuses
the legal figures that can be used
against civilians who violate the rights of our connacionales in the border go from which talk about hardly to cuantificables damages (emotional damage) to which are
in severe damage corporal or death. The government of Mexico will support the demands that, in their case, appear by the activities of the vigilantismo groups. Its
tipificación can be the following one:
1. - To inflict intentionally distresses or emotional damage. - It can be invoked to ask for repair or compensation when
damage or substantive alteration to the tranquillity state or mental peace of the affected one have existed.
2. - False arrest or false imprisonment. - One talks
about to the halting of a person without his consent and legal authority for it.
3. - Assault, aggressions or death. - An illicit action in which another person is
injured physically by another one commonly is denominated assault or injuries. The assault talks about the injury threat; whereas the term aggressions (battery) talks
about the corporal contact not wished that it produces physical damage.
4. - Vicarious responsibility (shared). - When it is evident that individual associated
groups of watchmen they have inflicted a reconocible injury, is due to determine if the organizations and/or their leaders of those organizations can also be responsible
by the injuries for the plaintiff.
3,4 Interinstitutional and intergovernmental coordination
During the months of March and diverse April was carried out
meetings between civil employees of Mexican institutions with presence in the zone of the border between Sonora and Arizona, with the intention of coordinating
tendientes actions to prevent any incident from the Mexican side with the border, particularly arisen on the part of tie people to the organized crime or of gangs. The
meetings also had the objective to evaluate the measures to adopt before possible blockades of the border ports on the part of competing demonstrators to the
activities of the volunteers of the Minuteman and to preserve the order and the tranquillity in the region.
In that same period stayed a constant coordination
with Presidents Municipales de Naco and Dark, Sonorous Agua, within the applicable legal frame and according to the attributions and competitions of the three
control systems, who allowed to avoid incidents in the border between Sonora and Arizona by the activities of the Minuteman project.
Of this form, the 1 of
April was carried out a meeting with the participation of representatives of the different agencies from the order, as much of Mexico as of the United States, in which
connections of communication between these agencies settled down, with the intention to count on opportune information on any incident that put in risk the public
order and to avoid any trasgresión or violation to the law.
As of March, settled down a permanent work group between civil employees of the Outer
Secretariats of Relations and Interior, in order to detect any violation that could be gotten to commit as a result of the activities of border monitoring of the members
of the Minuteman against Mexican nationals.
With that objective remembered reinforce the personnel of the National Institute of Migration and the Groups
Water Beta Prieta and Naco, Sonant, to make the procedures more expeditious of repatriation. Also, instructions were turned to them to interview all the nationals
who were repatriated and to report to the National Institute of Migration and the Consulate in Douglas any complaint or denunciation of aggression, badly treatment
or humiliation of which they had been object at the moment and during its halting, specially in case that this halting had become by individuals.
4, Answer of
the Government of the United States
Civil employees of the Department of Internal Security has offered the securities of which that corporation does not
support, in form some, the activities of monitoring made by individuals and it will not reduce violations to the law.
the diplomatic note presented/displayed the
10 of February by the Government of Mexico, was answered by the Department of State assuring that the government of the United States will guard by the respect
of the rights of any foreigner within his territory.
On the other hand, President George W. Bush declared in Waco, Texas, during the joint press conference
with the agent chief executives of Mexico and Canada: "I am against watchmen in the United States of America. I am in favor of enforcing the law in a rational way.
For that reason it is that an Border Patrol exists, and this one must enforce the law in the border ".
the 26 of March, the Commissioner of Customs and
Border Protection of the United States, Robert Bonner, shipment a letter to the Ambassador of Mexico in the United States in which it reiterates that the Border
Patrol does not support the activities announced by groups of civilians in Arizona, adds that the monitoring and protection of the borders correspond to the legally
authorized personnel to do it and if some volunteer of the group breaks the law faces penal positions, as they mark the laws to it of the United States.
the 31
of March, the spokesman of the Border Patrol of the United States, Samuel Zamora, indicated that the Minuteman represents a distraction for the Border Patrol that
it prevents him to exert its work. She added that if people "take the law in her own hands, we are not going it to tolerate". She also commented that in case that
haltings on the part of individuals appear, these last ones will have to face positions in his against.
In this sense, the spokesman of the Tucson Sector of the
Border Patrol, declared that the Minuteman project has caused more damages than benefits in the border so that the resources on which they count have had to be
used to take care of the activation of censors caused by the volunteers.
On the other hand, the White House has maintained the position of not accepting the
application of the law on the part of individuals and to emphasize that the Border Patrol is the one in charge of the application of the law in the matter.
5,
Description of the activities of the called group Minuteman
In January of 2005, the self-appointed group Minuteman Project carried out a public meeting in
Tombstone, Arizona, to present its objectives and to recruit volunteers. In agreement with declarations of the organizers, they managed to reunite companies of 1.022
volunteers, including some pilots with airships.
At first, some of the organizers had showed that they would stop undocumented people who went into in that
country by the border. When public becoming the strategy of the government of Mexico, the declarations of the organizers of Minuteman were modified of certain
form and clarified that its only objective would be to detect the undocumented people and to inform to the Border Patrol of the United States for its halting.
a
1 of April group of volunteers who comprise of the new organization denominated antiimmigrant Minuteman Project, initiated its supposed "work of monitoring"
throughout the border runner Naco-Douglas, is to say in less than 50 kilometers of the border between Mexico and Arizona. Its objective era to detect
undocumented people who go into to that country and power "to help" to the Border Patrol in their activities.
In agreement with declarations of James
Gilchrist, one of the organizers of the project, all the people who participate does it of voluntary way. It considers that the federal authorities have been incapable to
protect the borders and criticizes the lack of margin of action and resources that face so much the Border Patrol as the Office of Immigration and Customs.
Minuteman is defined as a project integrated of grassroots. The recruitment that carries out is focused to attract people who are or have been members of
organizations which they apply the law, as well as veteran and people with experience in intelligence activities. The organizers assure that the project is not a call to the
arms and that its function is, solely, to observe and to inform to the Border Patrol the location places that present/display illegal activities in the border strip so that
they are they ordered them to make an investigation.
the objective, exposed by the organizers, to meet in Arizona in the month of April is to protest as
opposed to the refusal of the Congress and the President of the United States to protect the borders of the undocumented immigrants, who "represent an imminent
danger for the Americans and dilute to the power of the vote of the American citizens front to the foreigners".
In agreement with the information provided by
the General Consulate of Mexico in Douglas, Arizona, registered approximately 100 volunteers of Minuteman in the meeting that took place the 1 of April in
Tombstone, Arizona. A great number of representatives also appeared, around 120, of printed and electronic mass media.
the "watchmen" who were bet
throughout the border strip, to the east of the port of entrance of Naco, moved three miles to the east of Naco in the direction of Douglas. According to the consular
reports, they appeared around 40 individuals that, making use of binoculars, they tried to detect to undocumented migrantes.
At any moment, the Border
Patrol and other corporations maintained a close control of the activities of the volunteers of Minuteman, which contributed to the absence of incidents.
In
agreement with the information provided by the Consulate in Douglas, at no moment were than 120 volunteers making more monitoreo workings in the Border
between Mexico and Arizona. In the two areas from where the volunteers of Minuteman made workings of "monitoring" (the border runner Naco-Douglas and the
demarcation of highway 92 to the south of Vista Mountain range) it did not have more than thirty watchmen at the same time.
the Border Patrol publicly
showed, in diverse occasions, its annoyance because the volunteers of Minuteman activated control censors and caused false alarms that mobilized without sense to
the elements of the corporation.
6, Incidents
Even though did not report haltings on the part of voluntary individuals of Minuteman between the 1 and
the 30 of April, appeared some incidents, that although in principle do not seem to be violations to the rights of our connacionales, continue under investigation. It is
possible to indicate that in all the cases, it was obtained that the Mexicans involved were taken care of of immediate way as much by the consulates of Mexico in
Arizona, like by the American authorities of the zone.
? Case of presumed halting of Jose Antonio Aboytes by individuals
the 6 of April, the
Consulate of Mexico in Douglas received the warning from the Naco station of the Border Patrol of the United States of the halting of the connacional Jose Antonio
Aboytes original Sepúlveda of Obregón City, Sonant. On the matter, the Consul of Mexico in Douglas met with the Supervisor of the Naco station of the Border
Patrol, with the Office of Sheriff de Cochise and entrevistó to the connacional.
Ed Go'mez, Supervisor of the Naco station, explained the Consul in Douglas
that the facts happened around the 13:00 hrs. of same the 6 of April, near the town of Palominas, Arizona. Two volunteers of the Minuteman group were near
highway 92 when they saw Mr. Aboytes, called it and they gave food, water, $20 dollars American and one playera him with a legend ironic, but offensive. The
Supervisor Go'mez referred that later the connacional was stopped by an agent of the Border and transferred Patrol to the Naco station. Anyway, the fact was
reported to sheriff of the County of Cochise.
the Office of the Sheriff of the County of Cochise designated to a specialized civil employee to lead the
investigations. This civil employee obtained a video recorded by the members of Minuteman that includes the development of the facts related by the involved people.
This video has been under safekeeping of the Office of the Sheriff. The spokeswoman of the Office of the Sheriff declared that the investigations will stay and that as
soon as a report is had, this one will be sent to the office of the Solicitor of the County for her revision.
In the interview that the Consul of Mexico made, Mr.
Aboytes related that it crossed the border and that after days to be walking, decided to return to Mexico by highway 92 with the idea of being gathered by the
Border and repatriated Patrol to Mexico. The connacional explained that it went the one who requested both to subject that he found in his way which they called to
the Border Patrol.
the connacional was sent to Tucson where it will remain under safekeeping before the possibility that the Federal Solicitor requires of his
testimony.
Although the information available does not allow us to conclude that it is a case of apprehension of a connacional on the part of individuals, the
investigations follow their course and the Consul of Mexico in Douglas stays in constant contact with involved the federal and local authorities in these investigations. [
PPG ] Mexican stopped to the interior of military installations of the Huachuca Fort
the 3 of April, the Delegation of the National Institute of Migration of
Naco, Sonant, reported to the Consulate of Mexico in Douglas, Arizona that 12 of the migrantes that had been repatriated to Mexican territory by that locality, had
declared "to be stopped by paramilitary". As soon as it was counted on the list of the names of the connacionales that had showed the previous thing, the consulate
made a management before the Naco station of the Border Patrol, that clarified that these people had been apprehended by the Military police of the Huachuca Fort,
since they had entered lands of this military base.
? Videoclip of the chain Fox News was misinterpreted by some means that concluded that they appear
supposed volunteers of Minuteman apprehending to undocumented people. The Consulate of Mexico in Douglas has been able to confirm, even with the agencies of
the competent United States, that the first person whom the halting is making and the registry of the presumed immigrant that appears in the video, is an official of the
Border Patrol, specifically of group SRT (Special Response Team). Inclusively, to the bottom of videoclip a vehicle with the signaling of the Border Patrol is noticed.
Also, like it is possible to be appreciated in the video, the person who makes the halting carries the type of organic armament of the Border Patrol. It is possible to
emphasize that the videos were reviewed by the Consul of Mexico in Douglas with Joe agent Hernandez, of the Douglas station of the Border Patrol, that also
belongs to the SRT. This agent provided to the consulate the jacket of his uniform of field and it was possible to be stated that the uniforms are identical. With regards
to the femenine person that carry a red t-shirt, and that in another one of the takings of Fox News appears apprehending an individual, the woman it was identified
like Agent Rebecca Pichardo. This civil employee is member of the Borstar group, that carries red t-shirts.
? Case of presumed halting of Eladio Chávez
Lopez.
the 17 of April the Consulate of Mexico in Walnuts received a call of the Department of the Sheriff of the County of Santa Cruz, to notify that it had
been reported who Mr. Eladio Chávez Lopez had become lost in his attempt to enter of undocumented way American territory by Sonoita, Arizona. Also during the
call it was explained that, according to a witness, the group with which traveled Mr. Chávez was stopped by a presumably civil person who shot against the group to
try to stop them. The Department of the Sheriff of the County of Santa Cruz carried out operative search one rescues and located to the connacional, that was
transported to a hospital in Tucson, Arizona, by a bullet wound.
In the interview made by the Consulate of Mexico in Walnuts to the witness of the happened
thing, this one related that a group of people entered the United States 14 of April transporting costal with marijuana and that two days later, was intercepted by two
subjects, presumably narcotics traffickers, that shot against them, reason why left the shipment and in his attempt to flee, Mr. Chávez was hurt. Mr. Chávez was
interviewed by the Department of the Sheriff and showed that after to have been wounded, both subject took the shipment and they went away. The previous thing
makes suppose that this it is a case of traffic and drug robbery and not of halting on the part of individuals.
Halting of connacionales on the part of individuals
in Yuma, Arizona
This case deserves separate mention since it appeared in an area near the city of Yuma, population very moved away (more than 450
kilometers) of the site in which the activities of the Minuteman group were developed. Nevertheless, meticulous investigations are made and the Consulates of Mexico
in Yuma and Phoenix stay kind to the development of the events.
the 11 of April, the Wellton station of the Border Patrol of the United States gave warning
to the Consulate of Mexico in Yuma, Arizona of the halting, on the part of an individual, of seven connacionales in the County of Maricopa, Arizona. The person who
stopped the immigrants is Patrick Theodore Haab, reservist of the American and resident army of Table, Arizona. Mr. Haab was in the area of rest, located outside
the area of action of the Minuteman group, when he noticed himself that the connacionales arrived at the place threatened them a firearm, demanding to them that they
put mouth in the floor down, to the time that asked for support to a passer-by providing to him another firearm. Agents of the Sheriff of the Maricopa County and the
Border Patrol, Yuma Sector, arrived at the place after which Haab called to telephone number 911.
the Consul of Mexico in Yuma entrevistó to the seven
Mexicans that explained that when being walking by a highway they were with a person who aimed to them with a firearm and she requested to them that they threw
themselves to the floor. Also, they related that this person called to the authorities. Also they declared that they went into of undocumented way to the United States
by Sonoyta, Sonant from Thursday 7 of April, walked by the desert to arriving at the rest area of Sentinel, Arizona, where it waited for a Suburban to them.
Mr. Haab could face positions by agravated assault and deprivation of the freedom firearm. At the request of the public prosecutor, the case of Mr. Haab was
alternated the 15 of April, to the Superior Court to determine the origin of the cause
the General Consulate of Mexico in Phoenix and the Consulate of
Mexico in Yuma has conducted the following battles: The consulting attorney of the consulate in Phoenix is reviewing yet details this case, has taken the testimony
from the connacionales and will interpose the corresponding legal resources.
? The Consulate in Phoenix has communicated with the Federal Solicitor of
Justice, Paul Charlton.
? Communication with the Solicitor of the Maricopa County settled down, Andrew P. Thomas, who has direct competition on the legal
process interposed Mr. Haab.
? The Consulate in Yuma contacted with the Sheriff of the Maricopa County, Joe Arpaio. Entrevistó with authorities of the
Border Patrol and the connacionales.
? The General Consulate of Mexico in Phoenix asked for in writing the corresponding authorities that are contemplated
all the provisions that the law includes, against Haab, exposing to them the rejection of the Mexican Government before acts where civil Americans prevail of the
freedom to Mexican citizens.
7, Consideraciones
Although there were no incidents that to lament and that the activities of Minuteman in Arizona
finished the 30 of April, the Secretariat of Outer Relations stays letter to the assumption as much development of activities of Minuteman in other states, like a the
activities of other groups of "watchmen".
Although, the leaders of Minuteman has declared that the operation was a success, the Border Patrol has not
reported a diminution in the number of crossings in Arizona. The Tucson Sector registered 251.051 apprehensions between the 1 of October of 2004 and the 14 of
April of 2005, number that is similar to the haltings made between the 1 of October of 2003 and the 14 of April of 2004, that it was of 249,666.
7,1
Extension of the Minuteman project
the 12 of April, the republican Representative, Tom Tancredo, invited the organizers of Minuteman to Washington to
expose to the members of the congress its plans and objectives.
the 19 of April, the leaders of Minuteman announced a future expansion of the monitoring
workings, including the states of California, New Mexico, Texas, Michigan and Idaho. They would try on the one hand, to organize groups that transfer the activities
of the project to the rear area so that they face the industralists who employ to undocumented people and to make lobbying workings before the Congress of the
United States so that the displacement of the National Guard and the Armed Forces in the border is authorized. On the other hand, they announced that they will
carry out workings of monitoreo in other states of the border with Mexico.
the 22 of April, Minuteman announced the assumption beginning of monitoring
activities in the border with Canada and the states of New York, Washington, Dakota of Norte and Montana, to avoid the entrance of criminals and terrorists. They
justified this new extension of the activities expressing that was a way to respond to requests done in states of the north from the United States to the organizers of the
project.
the 27 of April, the organizers of Minuteman offered a press conference in which they explained the supposed success of the project and announced
that they will repeat this operative one in California, New Mexico, Texas and in areas of the border with Canada.
In this sense, the Governor of the state of
California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has made diverse declarations related to the entrance to the United States of undocumented immigrants and has showed its
support to the activities made by the Minuteman project. As opposed to this, the government of Mexico presented his position through Official notice no. 71 the
Secretariat of Outer Relations of the 29 of April, in which he showed that the Government of Mexico rejects the declarations of the Governor of California around the
activities that carry out groups of civilians to stop undocumented people in the border between the United States and Mexico. Also, he added that he is not through
this type of unfortunate uprisings as a better understanding between our country is obtained and the state of California.
7.2 Other groups 7.2.1
Arizona
? Arizona Guard Is a group integrated by near 200 paramilitary ones supposedly armed. Recently, their leaders criticized to the Minuteman project,
to consider that they failed in his attempt to contain undocumented immigration in Arizona and announced that the 4 of July and Border Storm will initiate a
denominated operation Border Shield.
the operation supposedly will be divided in two phases: in first pacific activities during five days in the area of the
border between Sonora and Arizona will be made. Some of the contemplated activities are to present/display a formal notification to the government of Mexico for
"noticing to him" that a request to the president of the United States will not be allowed the criminal activity of the undocumented immigrants and so that it orders the
National Guard of Arizona to unfold in adjacent zones of the organization with Mexico to watch and to protect the border.
the second phase of the
operation, denominated Border Shield, will be applied during one week, in her is tried to stop all illicit activity, including immigration and drug trafficking in the border
between Arizona and Mexico.
? Nationall Alliance Organization founded on 1974, who announced that she will begin to operate in the border with Mexico
from the 1 of May to stop the entrance of undocumented people. They consider that this is a way to show its inconformidad by the invasion of migrantes of other
races of the American territory.
? Ranch Rescue - Arizona Chapter From the 2000 initiated workings of "monitoring" in the border, particularly in private
properties. Even though they refused to participate in the Minuteman project, are gliding to initiate its own operation, call Operation Eagle, divided in phases in the
spring and the summer.
7.2.2 California
? Friends of the Border Patrol Organization founded on 2004, related to other organizations antiimmigrants.
At the moment, our State is directed by members of the Save organization, that recently failed in its attempt to reunite companies to be able to include a proposal to
avoid that the undocumented immigrants obtained driver's licenses in the electoral tickets of the state of the 2006.
This organization looks for to reunite
volunteers to make, this summer, workings of monitoreo from the ocean to the imperial valley. Also, they have announced that will look for consultant's office of
agents retired of the Border Patrol.
8, Attachment lines
Although the call Minuteman project did not cause any incident that to be sorry and their
activities have had a greater impact in mass media that in the conducted battles, the government of Mexico, through the Secretariat of Outer Relations and the
consular network, will stay alerts so that in case that any member of this group or any other violates the rights of our connacionales, appear the corresponding legal
resources and justice becomes.
the government of Mexico will renew the directed actions to fulfill the objectives to demand the greater respect to the rights
of Mexican nationals who are in United States and to improve its standards of life. Also, it will be continued promoting the observance total of the legal marks
American and international, that consecrate a series of rights for the foreigners who do not count on the required migratory documentation.
Finally, the
government of Mexico reiterates that the protection of the rights of the Mexicans is a high-priority activity of its foreign policy. Also, it considers that to give an
integral solution to this kind of problems a migratory reform is necessary that allows that the flow of people between Mexico and the United States is legal, safe,
ordered and respectful of the human rights.
Third Report On Vigilante Activities
URL- http://www.sre.gob.mx/eventos/minuteman/reporte3.htm#3.3
Index
1, Activities of the Minuteman project
2. The Department of National Security of the United States reiterates that it corresponds to the authorities to make the patrolling functions in the border
3, Pursuit of activities and actions by state (May-July 2005)
3,1 Arizona Haab Case
3,2 California Beginning of Activities of the group Border Watch Incidents in the region near the city of Field
3,3 Texas
3,4 Utah
3,5 New Mexico
3.6 Nevada
3,7 Illinois
3,8 Massachussets
3,9 Tennessee
Third Reporte on vigilantismo activities
The Government of Mexico has showed repeatedly his sentence to the activities of "vigilantismo" that citizens of the United States make, besides to give precise
pursuit to this situation and to undertake concrete actions to guarantee, in first instance, the total respect to the rights of Mexican nationals who cross the border.
On the matter, public have been done two reports on pursuit and actions undertaken: the first 11 of April and the second the 4 of May.
1, Activities of the Minuteman project
Before the increase of the activities of the Minuteman project, as well as of its territorial expansion, the past 24 of June the Government of Mexico
presented/displayed before the Department of State of the United States a new Diplomática[1 Note ], in which he solicitd that the subject is reviewed by the
corresponding authorities and that measures are adopted to prevent any violation to the rights with our connacionales. Also, the Government of Mexico reiterated his
preoccupation by the repercussion of the diffusion of these ideas and actions.
In that same date, the Secretariat of Outer Relations turned instructions to all the consulates of Mexico in the United States, following the shipments in April and May
to the border consulates, so that they stay alert, they fortify the communication channels with the local and state authorities, and so that monitoree any activity of
groups of ` vigilantismó, or that are tie or not to the call Minuteman project, that can attempt against of the rights of our connacionales.
2. The Department of Internal Security of the United States reiterates that it corresponds to the authorities to make the patrolling functions in the border
The past 21 of July, diverse mass media presented the declarations made by the Commissioner the Department of Customs and Border Protection of the United
States, Robert Bonner, relative to the possible inclusion of civil volunteers to the activities of the Border Patrol.
That same day, the Government of Mexico, through our Embassy in Washington more, gave a Diplomatic Note to the Department of State of the United States in
which he declared that the possibility of having volunteers cooperating with the authorities of the Department of Internal Security in subjects of immigration and
border, would severely affect our capacity for the future development of the cooperation on these subjects and solicitd to make the corresponding explanations.
Equally, the Government of Mexico reiterated his preoccupation by the repercussions of the diffusion of the ideas and actions of the groups of watchmen on the
fundamental rights of the Mexican nationals, and emphasized that the presence of these groups aggravates the climate of disquiet and tension that prevails in the
border.
Like answer, afternoon of own the 21 of July the Department of Internal Security of the United States expressed, through a press official notice, that the declarations
of Bonner Commissioner did not represent an official position.
3, Pursuit of activities and actions by state (May-July 2005)
3,1 Arizona The past 13 of May, volunteers of the Minuteman project reinitiated activities in the County of Cochise, Arizona. This new presence of volunteers
responds to the call of the organization, to participate in which May surprise is known like "the operation" (Operation May Surpise), that lasted of only a day.
3, Pursuit of activities and actions by state (May-July 2005)
3,1 Arizona The past 13 of May, volunteers of the Minuteman project reinitiated activities in the County of Cochise, Arizona. This new presence of volunteers
responds to the call of the organization, to participate in which May surprise is known like "the operation" (Operation May Surpise), that lasted of only a day. The
organization has maintained her position of not having contact with the immigrants and limiting themselves to report her presence to the Border Patrol. The General
Consulate of Mexico in Phoenix has stayed in contact with the Border Patrol to ratify the request of being notified in case that some volunteer stops undocumented
people, as well as the request to interview the immigrants while they are under safekeeping of the Border Patrol. Haab Case As Report of Activities is described in
the Second on the Minuteman Project, published by the Secretariat of Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) the past 11 of April, the American citizen Patrick Haab stopped a
group of connacionales that crossed of undocumented way the border between Mexico and the state of Arizona. The Chancellery has followed of constant way the
development of the case and has lent legal and consular aid to the affected connacionales. The 11 of May, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship of the
United States gave to the General Consulate of Mexico in Phoenix the safekeeping of six of the connacionales (seventh it was processed like dealer of people), after
the payment of a guarantee of $5.000 dollars American by each one of them. The SRE, in coordination with a group of consulting attorneys and the involved
consulates of Mexico, is supporting to the connacionales to regularize their migratory situation in as much concludes the legal process.
3,2 California The organizers of the Minuteman project announced the 6 of May who would initiate training activities in the border zone between Mexico and the
state of California as of June, and that in August would conduct an operation of monitoring in the zone. The organization "Friends of the Border Patrol" informed at a
first moment that would unfold volunteers from the 1 of August in 100 kilometers of the border of the County of San Diego with Mexico (from the east of the city of
San Diego to the Imperial Valley), and which they would initiate activities day 18 of the same month. Nevertheless, recently they presented that the date of beginning
of activities will be posponed for the 16 of September. This group has declared that has 750 volunteers, that they glide to establish a camping bases on the area of
Pungent Rough Ranch in the Valley of McCain and that during the operation they will construct a platform of observation in mountains. Also they have indicated that
they will maintain the principle of not having contact with the immigrants and they will watch the border solely to give warning to the Border Patrol in case of
discovering crossing them by California. The 6 of June, the General Consul of Mexico in San Diego met with local authorities of the National Institute of Migration,
the Groups Beta in Tijuana and Mexicali and the Rural Californian organization Legal Assistance Foundation to coordinate actions as opposed to the presumed
beginning of monitoring activities in the state of California. The 24 of June, during the monthly meeting of the Meeting of Directors of the Association of Governments
of San Diego, integrated by the mayors of 18 cities of the County of San Diego, the Consul of Mexico showed the opposition of the government from Mexico to the
monitoring activities and reiterated that that representation maintains narrow collaboration with the agencies of power of attorney of justice of the County, to follow
the actions of this type of groups and to make sure that the respect to the rights of the migrantes is guaranteed. Beginning of Activities of the group Border Watch The
13 of July, the organization Border Watch declared before mass media of the state of California that would make monitoring workings in the border between Mexico
and California, particularly in the zone near the city of Field, in the County of San Diego, from the 16 of July, and that would have 300 volunteers. Before this, the
Border Patrol outside installed a sentry post of the station Field. Agents of this corporation expressed their preoccupation to have to use their resources to rescue
volunteers of the group who can have problems by the high temperatures or the so rough land. Also, the office of the Sheriff in the city of Field emphasized that they
would stay to the slope that the laws of the state are not violated relative to the carrying of arms. The 15 of July, the association of Heads of Polici'a and Sheriff of the
County of San Diego published a titled official notice of press Border Protocol in which, among other things, it exposes the necessity to reasignar resources and
personnel to maintain the security of the residents and the activists, as much to favor as against monitoring actions, to the light of the activities of Border Watch. Also it
invites to the people related to the beginning of these activities to avoid any violent event and affirms that under no circumstance crimes of hatred or any violation to
the law will be tolerated. The 16 of July, date of beginning of activities of the group Border Watch, the office of the Sheriff informed that violent acts did not appear
and the average premises affirmed that the number of volunteers was not greater to 30 people. Incidents in the region near the city of Field The weekend of 23 and
24 of July four incidents in the border between the states of Baja California, Mexico were reported, and California, the United States. In two of these cases the
information with which account is indicated that there was participation of volunteers of the no group Border Watch. The first incident registered in American territory
and the second in Mexican territory. In both events two wounded connacionales were registered. On the matter, the informative part of the Group Beta in Tecate
(National Institute of Migration) concluded that these facts do not have relation with the groups of "cazamigrantes" and that in both cases were involved groups of
criminals who dedicate themselves to assault to migrantes. The Public Ministry of the Common Law took knowledge from both cases and is making the
corresponding investigations. Also the office of the Sheriff of the County of San Diego is carrying out an investigation of the facts. There were two incidents in those
more than the Border Patrol stopped to three connacionales like answer to the warning made by volunteers of the group Border Watch. The first halting was of a pair
of connacionales in the zone near the city of Field, California, that declared in interview with civil employees of the General Consulate of Mexico in San Diego who
one of the volunteers of the group, at the request of they themselves, gave "aventón them" and that moments later gave them Patrol to the Border. In the second case,
the Border Patrol stopped to a Mexican national after to have received the notification from a volunteer of the group, that entertained it while they arrived.
The
Government of Mexico is carrying out the investigations and the corresponding consultations to make sure that the rights of the connacionales have not been done
violence to and, in case that it comes, will use all the legal resources that are necessary against who is responsible. In this sense, by instructions of the Secretary of
Outer Relations, the Undersecretary for North America, Gerónimo Gutiérrez, traveled the 28 from July to San Diego to directly coordinate the actions that the
General Consulate of Mexico is developing. During his stay in that city he maintained meetings with: · Claudia Smith, leader of Rural California Legal Assistance
Foundation, with that engaged in a dialog on the operative ones of "vigilantismo" registered in San Diego in the last weeks and on the work of legal attendance that
makes its organization. · Darryl Griffen, Head of the Border Patrol of the Sector San Diego, who ratified that the Border Patrol will not allow any violation to the law
and that is to the slope of the operative ones which they make these groups. Mr. Griffen reiterated to the Undersecretary his commitment to opportunely notify the
General Consulate, in case that the vigilant calls stop or take part in the halting of Mexican undocumented people. It is possible to emphasize that in the first week of
August a meeting of coordination with border consuls will take place, in whom the 13 consuls of Mexico based on the border will discuss this subject with authorities
of the Secretariat of Outer Relations, will evaluate the followed strategy and will define the next actions.
3,3 Texas The 11 of May, leaders of the call Minuteman project declared that the date probable to initiate monitoring activities in Texas is October. These activities
would be made along the Bravo River. The main organizers of the activities in Texas belong to the group for Americans Zero Population Growth. The Mayor of
Brownsville declared that "it is probable that the presence of Minuteman causes more problems of those than can solve". The Consul of Mexico in Military prison met
with of the Head of the Marfa Sector of the Border Patrol to ask for his collaboration so that in case that some type of monitoring activity is detected, report
immediately to that Consulate.
3,4 Utah Knowledge is had of which some volunteers who participated in the activities of the call Minuteman project in Arizona, initiated the organization Utah
Minuteman Project. The 18 of June, this group carried out protests in front of diverse banking branches to show its opposition to the use of the consular matriculation
in you are institutions, with the argument of which the banks helped to the undocumented people accepting the matriculation.
3,5 New Mexico The group New Mexico Minuteman announced that the 10 of June would initiate monitoring activities in the Counties of Doña Ana and Moon in the
South border of the state of New Mexico. Nevertheless, after to have made an observation route, the Consulate of Mexico in the Step did not register presence
some of volunteers or individuals making monitoring activities in that region. Also, agents of the Border Patrol, Sector the Step, did not have incidents that to report.
The 26 of June a meeting was made in the city of Columbus, which they attended near 100 people. In agreement with reports of the average premises, most of the
people was not of Columbus. As opposed to these activities, the Mayoress of the city, Martha Skinner, declared that she is in agreement with the presence of the
group and that their activities are adapted. In relation to the activities made by the consulate, the 28 of June civil employees of the Consulate of Mexico in
Alburquerque they met with Bill Hume, Head of Political Advisers of Bill Governor Richardson. In this meeting it was exposed that the government of the state will
insist that the solution to immigration, as well as the application of the migratory laws, is a subject of federal and nonstate character. It also explained that in case that a
volunteer breaks the state laws, the state will act of drastic and opportune FORM. Bill governor Richardson declared that "he does not require himself of the presence
of volunteers of the Minuteman group in New Mexico because authorities in charge of the application of the law in the South border of the state already exist".
Spokesman of the Sector Paso of the Border Patrol of the United States presented that that corporation is against to the activities of monitoring on the part of
individuals in the border.
3.6 Nevada From the 27 to the 29 of May, the organization antiimmigrant Wake up America carried out, in Fertile valleys, Nevada, the national meeting "United to
Fight against Illegal Immigration", with the objective to reunite to all the people and organizations involved in which they call "the fight against the invasion of the
undocumented immigrants to the United States" and to manage with this to know themselves, to plan and to design directed strategies to reach the common goal.
Even though one announced that they could arrive up to 1.000 assistants, only participated 200. In agreement with the program, the main orador was the
Representative Tom Tancredo. Also antiimmigrants like Jim Gilchrist and Chris Simcox participated to leaders of groups, founders of the Minuteman project; Jan and
William Herron, leaders of Defend Colorado Now; Glen Spencer, leader of American Border Patrol; Sharrar flash, founder of Arizona Patriots, organization of
"watchmen" who operate in Yuma; Andy Ramirez, leader of Friends of the Border Patrol, organization who operates in California; Rick Oltman, representative of
FAIR; Barbara Coe, of California for Coalition Immigration Reform and coauthor of proposal 187; Lupe Moreno and Angie Morfin, members of the Republican
Hispanic Assembly, among others.
3,7 Illinois A group of residents of Chicago that participated in the activities made by Minuteman in April in the state of Arizona initiated a chapter of this organization
in Illinois. They glide to direct its activities towards politicians who approve or are in favor of immigration and towards employers whom they contract undocumented
people. To the day of east today group presumably counts on around 50 volunteers and at the moment they will be limited activities of public relations.
3,8 Massachussets In agreement with information successfully obtained by the Consulate of Mexico in Boston, recently the organization New England Minuteman
Association was created, whose mission will be to protect the borders with Canada.
3,9 Tennessee The 18 of July, local means presented the creation the group The Tennessee Volunteer Minutemen with seat in the city of Morristown, Tennessee. * *
* It is possible to reiterate that in the first week of August a meeting of coordination with border consuls will take place, in whom the 13 consuls of Mexico based on
the border will discuss the subject of the vigilantismo, among other subjects, with authorities of the Secretariat of Outer Relations. In the meeting the followed strategy
will be evaluated and the next actions will be defined.
Actions Around The Minuteman Project
URL - http://www.sre.gob.mx/eventos/minuteman/masinformacion.htm
Antecedents
On April 1 a group of volunteers who comprise of a new denominated organization Minuteman Project, will initiate a supposed "work of monitoring" throughout the border runner Naco-Douglas. Its declared objective is to detect undocumented people who go into to that country and to inform to the Border Patrol so that they stop them.
In January of 2005, the group carried out a public meeting in Tombstone, Arizona, to present its project and to recruit volunteers. Until the 23 of March, according to declarations of the organizers, they had been managed to reunite to 1.022 volunteers, including some pilots with airships.
In agreement with the program of activities of Minuteman, the 1 of April will be carried out a meeting in Tombstone, Arizona. 2 and 5 of April will make manifestations as opposed to several stations of the Border Patrol in Arizona. Also they will carry out, in dates to determine, manifestations of protest in the city of Douglas main streets of Douglas.
Diplomatic Actions and Managements
In January, the Secretariat of Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) maintained consultations on the subject with the Commissioner of Adunas and Border Proteccio'n of the Department of Seguridad Interna (DHS).
In February, the SRE sent a Diplomatic Note to the government of the United States, in which it express preoccupation by the activities of the Minuteman project and the managements of the Department of State are asked for (TWO) in order that the competent dependencies take forecasts, to avoid that federal and state laws in damage of our connacionales are violated.
In that same month the subject was boarded also, in Washington D.C. at level of Chancellors.
In March, the Ambassador of Mexico in the United States entrevistó with the Head of the Border Patrol of the DHS, in order to ask for its intervention.
In occasion of the work visit that the Secretary of State of the United States made to Mexico, was again expressed him the position of Mexico on the part of the Secretary of Outer Relations.
In that same month in the City of Mexico, during the work meeting which they maintained civil employees of the secretariats of Interior and Outer Relaciones of Mexico with diverse civil employees of the DHS, including the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection and the Head of the Border Patrol, the Mexican delegation reiterated the position of our government.
During the encounter which they maintained the Presidents of Mexico and the United States, in Waco, Texas, the President of the Republic expressed to its homologous American the preoccupation of its government by the subject and asked for the intervention of the competent authorities.
In addition to the actions before mentioned, the holders of the Consulates of Mexico in Arizona (Phoenix, Walnuts, Tucson, Douglas and Yuma) has made similar managements with authorities of Arizona (the Governor and State Solicitor), with federal authorities with jurisdiction in the State (Fiscal Federal and the ones in charge of the diverse sectors of the Border Patrol) and with municipal authorities.
Answer of the Authorities of the United States
Civil employees of the DHS has offered the securities of which that corporation does not support, in form some, the activities of monitoring made by individuals and some to the law will not reduce violation.
the diplomatic note of the 10 of February, was answered by the Department of State assuring that the government of the United States will guard by the respect of the rights of any foreigner within his territory.
On the other hand, President George W. Bush declared in Waco, Texas, during the joint press conference with the agent chief executives of Mexico and Canada: "I am against watchmen in the United States of America. I am in favor of enforcing the law in a rational way. For that reason it is that an Border Patrol exists, and this one must enforce the law in the border ".
Consular Actions
By instructions of the SRE, the consulates of Mexico in Arizona is in permanent alert from January of this year, before any possible violation of the rights of Mexican nationals.
the SRE has established an agreement of collaboration with the Center of Human rights and Constitutional Right of the United States, in order to identify the legal actions that can be undertaken against the individuals that commit abuses that affect the Mexican migrantes. A study made within the framework of this agreement, identifies the possible legal resources that they could be promoted with base to the own American legal frame. This study has been given to the legal consultants of the consulates.
has settled down direct channels of communication between consular personnel of Mexico in Arizona and the Border Patrol. Personal
of the Main directorate of Protection and Consular Subjects, has been commissioner to travel to the city of Douglas, Arizona and to supervise of direct form the preventive workings and protection that our consulates make in that state. The Consulate in Douglas has been reinforced with additional personnel.
has asked for the chiefs of the stations of the Border Patrol in Douglas and Naco, Arizona, that the consulate is informed into all and each one of the possible apprehensions of Mexican migrantes made by members of the Minuteman group and requested that it is allowed consular personnel to interview all the prisoners before they are repatriated.
the General Consulate in Phoenix has reinforced its communication with the competent authorities of the State of Arizona.
Preventive actions Internal
28 of March, took place meeting, in Water Dark, Sonorous, of authorities Mexican of three levels of government with presence in that region of border, in that a program remembered action in which all the agencies of the order participate, with objective to prevent any possible incident, arisen from the Mexican side, between that emphasizes the extension of the presence of the Groups Beta in the border.
Position of the Government of Mexico
the Government of Mexico condemns the vigilantismo activities that citizens of the United States make in the border. Although it is sovereign faculty of any State to take the measures necessary to assure the protection his borders and the fulfillment of their dispositions in migratory matter, these activities correspond only and exclusively to the competent authorities of the States.
Since knowledge was had of which a group of civilians tried to organize itself to make monitoring workings in the border with the objective to avoid the crossing of undocumented immigrants, the Government of Mexico expressed publicly his sentence and initiated diverse actions with authorities from the United States to effect of:
to assure the respect to the rights Mexican nationals who, in their case, cross the border between the Arizona and Sonora states in the zone where the volunteers of the project presumably will make monitoring activities;
to promote the total observance of the own American and international, same frame legal that consecrates rights for the foreigners who enter the United States, still without the required migratory documentation; and
to ask for to the competent authorities of that country the unfolding of preventive actions that, with attachment to the American legal frame, allow to avoid a possible incident in that zone of the border.
In this sense, among other actions, the 10 of February was sent a Diplomatic Note to the Government of the United States, in which it express our preoccupation by the activities of the denominated group Minuteman and it is asked for to take forecasts to avoid that federal and state laws in damage of our connacionales are violated.
the Government of Mexico has described like unacceptable the actions by means of which groups of individuals make haltings of Mexican migrantes. Also, it has reiterated in diverse forums its commitment to continue working with the Government of the United States in the search of mechanisms that assure that the migration of Mexican towards the United States is legal, safe, ordered and respectful of its rights.
the Chancellery has turned instructions to the Consulates of Mexico in the border with Arizona, so that they remain to the slope of the development of the events and so that they render assistance to our connacionales. In their case, the consulates will present/display the denunciations before the corresponding authorities if illegal haltings on the part of individuals are provoked.
Also, the Secretariat of Outer Relations has established an agreement of collaboration with the Center of Human rights and Constitutional Right of the United States, in order to identify the legal actions that can be undertaken against the individuals that commit abuses that affect the Mexican migrantes.
Finally, is possible to emphasize that the governments of Mexico and the United States we have agreed in which the security of the border zone is a subject of the greater importance for both countries, and that that responsibility corresponds only and exclusively to the competent authorities of both countries.
Case Of The Mexican National Jose Antonio Aboytes
URL - http://www.sre.gob.mx/eventos/minuteman/casojoseantonio.htm
The day of yesterday, the Consulate of Mexico in Douglas received the warning from the Naco station of the Border Patrol of the United States of the halting of the connacional Jose Antonio Aboytes original Sepúlveda of Obregón City, Sonant. On the matter, the Consul of Mexico in Douglas met with the Supervisor of the Naco station of the Border Patrol, with the Office of Sheriff de Cochise and entrevistó to the connacional.
Ed Go'mez, Supervisor of the Naco station, explained to the Consul in Douglas that the facts happened around the 13:00 hrs., near the town of Palominas, Arizona. Two volunteers of the Minuteman group were near highway 92 when they saw Mr. Aboytes, called it and they gave food, water, $20 USD and one playera him with a legend ironic, but offensive. The Supervisor Go'mez referred that later the connacional was stopped by an agent of the Border and transferred Patrol to the Naco station. Anyway, the fact was reported to sheriff of the County of Cochise.
The Office of the Sheriff of the County of Cochise designated to a specialized civil employee to lead the investigations. This civil employee obtained a video recorded by the members of Minuteman that includes the development of the facts related by the involved people. This video has been under safekeeping of the Office of the Sheriff. The spokeswoman of the Office of the Sheriff declared that the investigations will stay and that as soon as a report is had, this one will be sent to the office of the Solicitor of the County for her revision.
In the interview that the Consul from Mexico to Mr. Aboytes made, related that it crossed the border from the last Saturday and that after days to be walking, decided to return to Mexico walked by highway 92 with the idea of being gathered by the Border and repatriated Patrol to Mexico. The connacional explained that it went the one who requested both to subject that he found in his way which they called to the Border Patrol.
The connacional was sent to Tucson where it will remain under safekeeping before the possibility that the Federal Solicitor requires of his testimony.
Although the information available does not allow us to conclude that it is a case of apprehension of a connacional on the part of individuals, the investigations follow their course and the Consul of Mexico in Douglas stays in constant contact with involved the federal and local authorities in these investigations.
The Government Of Mexico Condemns The Minuteman Project
URL - http://www.sre.gob.mx/eventos/minuteman/
The Government of Mexico condemns the vigilante activities that citizens of the United States make in the border. Although it is sovereign faculty of any State to take the measures necessary to assure the protection his borders and the fulfillment of their dispositions in migratory matter, these activities correspond only and exclusively to the competent authorities of the States.
Since knowledge was had of which a group of civilians tried to organize itself to make monitoring workings in the border with the objective to avoid the crossing of undocumented immigrants, the Government of Mexico expressed publicly his sentence and initiated diverse actions with authorities from the United States to effect of:
To assure the respect to the rights Mexican nationals who, in their case, cross the border between the Arizona and Sonora states in the zone where the volunteers of the project presumably will make monitoring activities;
To promote the total observance of the own American and international, same frame legal that consecrates rights for the foreigners who enter the United States, still without the required migratory documentation; and
To ask for to the competent authorities of that country the unfolding of preventive actions that, with attachment to the American legal frame, allow to avoid a possible incident in that zone of the border.
In this sense, among other actions, the 10 of February was sent a Diplomatic Note to the Government of the United States, in which it express our preoccupation by the activities of the denominated group Minuteman and it is asked for to take forecasts to avoid that federal and state laws in damage of our connacionales are violated.
The Government of Mexico has described like unacceptable the actions by means of which groups of individuals make haltings of Mexican migrantes. Also, it has reiterated in diverse forums its commitment to continue working with the Government of the United States in the search of mechanisms that assure that the migration of Mexican towards the United States is legal, safe, ordered and respectful of its rights.
The Chancellery has turned instructions to the Consulates of Mexico in the border with Arizona, so that they remain to the slope of the development of the events and so that they render assistance to our connacionales. In their case, the consulates will present/display the denunciations before the corresponding authorities if illegal haltings on the part of individuals are provoked.
Also, the Secretariat of Outer Relations has established an agreement of collaboration with the Center of Human rights and Constitutional Right of the United States, in order to identify the legal actions that can be undertaken against the individuals that commit abuses that affect the Mexican migrantes.
Finally, is possible to emphasize that the governments of Mexico and the United States we have agreed in which the security of the border zone is a subject of the greater importance for both countries, and that that responsibility corresponds only and exclusively to the competent authorities of both countries.
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May 10, 2006 - San Francisco, CA - PipeLinenews.org - Public documents available on Mexico's Secretary of Exterior Relations' [SER] website - only yesterday revealed in a series of articles dealing with the charge that American authorities are conspiring with the Mexican government to spy on American border activists - detail a level of intimidation on the part of the Mexican government and a level of acquiescence by the U.S. government heretofore unimaginable.