Federal agencies in effect join boycott over Arizona immigration law (Education, Border Patrol)

From this:

Two federal agencies have joined the "boycott Arizona" trend and nixed conferences there out of concern over the state's immigration law, a Democratic Arizona congresswoman said, calling the development "very troubling."

..."It is very troubling when the federal government becomes involved in a boycott against our state," (Rep. Gabrielle Giffords) said in a written statement. "Although I personally disagree with the immigration law, it came about because of growing frustration over the federal government's unwillingness to secure the border. The federal government's participation in this boycott only adds to that frustration."

...According to Giffords, the (Department of Education) canceled a convention set for October at a Tucson resort after the Mexican government said it would not send any representatives to the meeting. The department then moved the event to Minnesota.

Further, her office said the Border Patrol "verbally" canceled a conference set for May at a resort in Prescott after an official asked that it be moved out of concern over the immigration law debate. The Border Patrol -- which has more than 4,000 agents in Arizona, representing nearly a quarter of its force -- had booked 40 rooms for the event before canceling, though there was no contract signed for the event, according to Giffords' office.

UPDATE: Giffords stands by her comments (link):

"We have the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Education that had planned for meetings, had then canceled those meetings with the reason given that it was because of the immigration law," she said on Saturday, repeating a charge she first leveled earlier in the week.

But the Customs and Border Protection, the agency above the Border Patrol, has denied canceling any conferences in Arizona.

"We conducted a thorough review across our organization to ensure this is, in fact, the case," the statement said. "The agency has reached out to Rep. Giffords' office to clear up any misunderstanding."

The Education Department acknowledged moving a joint event held with Mexican and Canadian partners in a student exchange program.

But Assistant Education Secretary Peter Cunningham said in a statement that it did so because the Mexicans, an equal partner in the program, asked that it be moved. Each agency pays for its part of the joint North American Mobility Program.

"The Department of Education will continue to hold conferences in the state of Arizona, including one next week."