(Washington, DC)  Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today released Department of Homeland Security (DHS) records obtained under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act containing Secretary Michael Chertoff’s September 22, 2005 Implementation Memorandum for the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP).  The records describe the agencies within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for executing the partnership’s security agenda. 

According to the memorandum signed by Secretary Chertoff:  “…The [Security and Prosperity Partnership] has, in addition to identifying a number of new action items, comprehensively rolled up most of our existing homeland security-related policy initiatives with Canada and Mexico, and ongoing action and reporting in the various U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico working groups led by DHS [Department of Homeland Security] should now be driven by a single agenda:  the SPP.”

The records also contain an information paper describing ten “Prosperity Pillar Working Groups,” and the organization of the “US-Mexico Critical Infrastructure Protection Work Group.”  Unlike previous records produced by other federal agencies, the DHS records are heavily redacted to withhold the names of the US, Mexican and Canadian government officials carrying out the partnership’s agenda across all three countries.

Another record reviewed and released by DHS is a 10-page chart listing 36 “SPP Security High-Level Working Groups” that include the “Mexico-US Repatriation Technical WG,” the “Mexico-US Intelligence and Information Sharing WG,” and the “Canada-US Cross Border Crime Forum,” among others.

“These new records prove the Security and Prosperity Partnership is being directed by officials at the very highest levels of the United States government,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.  “Americans should know that the SPP is a core policy initiative for many agencies in our government, including the Department of Homeland Security.”

On March 23, 2005, heads of government Vincente Fox, George W. Bush, and Paul Martin launched the North American partnership at a meeting in Waco, Texas, with the expressed goal of “a safer, more prosperous North America.”  Critics, however, maintain the partnership is advancing some dubious policies and could ultimately compromise U.S. sovereignty.

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Click here to read Secretary Michael Chertoff’s September 22, 2005 Implementation Memorandum and an Information Paper describing “Prosperity Pillar Working Groups.”

Click here to read SPP Security Agenda; US – Mexico Infrastructure Protection Working Group; SPP Security High-Level Working Group List.

Click here to read more about the SPP