A California newspaper has reported that the Department of Homeland Security provides the Mexican government with intelligence about the activities of American citizen groups that promote border security, such as the Minuteman Project.

A California newspaper has reported that the Department of Homeland Security provides the Mexican government with intelligence about the activities of American citizen groups that promote border security, such as the Minuteman Project. DHS denies the allegations. It says that it is merely following treaty obligations by letting aliens communicate with their consulates and by giving those consulates basic information about the aliens' cases (including time and place of arrest, as well as any claims of mistreatment, whether by U.S. officials or civilians, during apprehension and detention). DHS officially insists that this information doesn't include intelligence about Minuteman launch sites and patrol areas. But Border Patrol agents and some DHS officials have said that such information is indeed shared. AMexican-government website also says that U.S. Customs and Border Protection routinely notifies Mexico of Minuteman locations. Three House Republicans (Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa of California and John Culberson of Texas) have jointly written to DHS secretary Michael Chertoff, demanding a full investigation. The story bears watching.