Minutemen to Patrol Border in Arizona

[phoenixx]

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/arti...21050009990001

Nearly 500 volunteers have already joined the Minuteman Project, anointing themselves civilian border patrol agents determined to stop the immigration flow that routinely, and easily, seeps past federal authorities. They plan to patrol a 40-mile stretch of the southeast Arizona state border throughout April, when the tide of immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border peaks.

This, to me, seems like an idea rife with the potential for disaster, both on the side of the citizen's militia (because face it, it really is an armed militia, though poorly formed) and on the side of the immigrants crossing the border illegaly. Assuming terrorists eventualy also get thrown into the mix, this could truly blow into an enormous issue facing Arizona, and largely, America as well.

What do you think?

[realtraveller]

These Minutemen are just going to provide eyes and ears for the Border Patrol and radio in the locations of groups of illegal immigrants to the authorities. With Congress approving the hiring of 2,000 more border patrol agents but the funding provided allows for only 200 more obviously more people are needed.

Neighborhoods have neighborhood watches. These ranches are private property and the owners are free to have any number of security people on their property to prevent trespassers.

Anyone of us would call police and report a crime in progress. These illegal immigrants are committing a felony.

"America's Most Wanted" solicits the help of citizens to help catch criminals and has had many successes, this is much the same.

[erik_kosberg]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...r_volunteers_2

Volunteers who have converged on the Mexican border to watch for illegal immigrants are disrupting U.S. Border Patrol operations by unwittingly tripping sensors that alert agents to possible intruders, an agency spokesman complained Monday.

[drmomentum[$]]

Pure gun-totin' genius.

[phoenixx]

Are these the same minutemen I was discussing in the other thread, or new ones?

[erik_kosberg]

Probably the same. Duh, maybe someone will be so kind as to merge the threads.

[mtomm[$]]

phoenixx said

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/arti...21050009990001



This, to me, seems like an idea rife with the potential for disaster, both on the side of the citizen's militia (because face it, it really is an armed militia, though poorly formed) and on the side of the immigrants crossing the border illegaly. Assuming terrorists eventualy also get thrown into the mix, this could truly blow into an enormous issue facing Arizona, and largely, America as well.

What do you think?

I'm thinking just like you! Great potential for a disaster.

[Stokes Pennwalt]

phoenixx said

What do you think?

It's heartwarming to see Americans with a high degree of civic responsibility taking the welfare of their community into their own hands. The only impact I suspect this may have at a national level is calling attention to some of the flaws in our immigration and border security doctrine, which would be a good thing.

[poseidon]

I'm in agreement here. Good gravy, something has to be done. So what? They're armed! As long as they're not committing murder in the desert, that doesn't bother me.

Simply because someone is armed doesn't mean that they're bad or evil.

Also, who the *&^% cares if they're accidentally triggering sensors? It isn't as if the Border Patrol is doing a sufficient job. Have the Minutemen tell the Border Patrol that they're in the area, the Border Patarol can worry about one less spot to watch.

[realtraveller]

The Minutemen are bringing national attention to a serious problem that affects national security, the economy and healthcare, crime, drugs and on and on.

And it's something that neither the Republican or Democratic leadership want to do anything about.

Its the prime example of special interests having more power over both parties than regular voters who have to mount ballot iniatives like Arizona's Prop. 200 to attempt to have their voices heard at all, despite overwhelming majorities wanting the government to crack down on illegal immigrants and those who hire them.

[erik_kosberg]

“US Border Militia Avoids Charges in Immigrant Case”

This just gets odder and odder.

[poseidon]

We have information that says exactly the opposite, that they gave the immigrant food and water and a big hug," spokesman Fred Elbel said. "The sheriff watched the video and said on the spot that it was not an incident, and he laughed all the way through."

Frankly, I think it's a hoot myself. It certainly doesn't sound to me as if the guy was being held against his will. Sounds a lot more to me like someone wanting to get rich quick.

[erik_kosberg]

A a related thread debated whether or not the border crossers could be held against their will by the Minutemen. This latest case would seem to indicate that maybe they can’t.

[AuntieEmma[$]]

The Rude Pundit weighs in, and lives up to his name by being quite rude. He also, IMO, gets at the truth.

[wivabef]

But, you know, let's put it this way: if, say, the northern border of the United States, you know, the one with Canada, was like the southern border, do you think most of the country would give a happy monkey fuck about large groups of English-speaking white people coming into the America? If the armed rednecks walked by construction sites and saw lots of white men putting up drywall, would they fuckin' blink? If the lawns of the Phoenix suburbs were watered, mowed, and shaped by white people, would anyone want those fuckers tossed out and/or arrested?

Actually, yes, they would.

When having to describe my status of being a registered permanent resident (formerly known as "resident alien") I have been asked why I don't go home and get a job there (yes, I'll go "home" to Alberta where I was born...I couldn't even point where in the province I was born without having to look at the key on the map. And I'll get "paid" to be a stay at home mom there!

Then, there was the woman who asked whether or not I married my husband to "avoid deportation". And she was surprised that I didn't have a french accent.

So, yes, and you don't have to be a redneck to be that stupid. Why, you can be a radio news person in East Bumf***, NH. Or, the sales manager who not only had a problem with my nationality but with the fact that a person in the programming end of things had...breasts (to which I pointed out that one of our morning guys had man breasts).

So, yes...it takes all kinds to be ignorant about EVERYTHING.

[erik_kosberg]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor..._volunteers_10

A civilian border watch group dismissed a volunteer who had an illegal immigrant pose for a mocking photograph.

Organizers of the Minuteman Project said that although authorities determined the man had not illegally detained the immigrant, he still violated the group's procedures. They added that the volunteer had given the immigrant $20 and fed him during Wednesday's encounter.

"The volunteer's actions were admirable, justified and undeniably humane," Chris Simcox, a project official, said in a news release, "but unfortunately they jeopardized our established procedures and overall purpose of passively monitoring the border."

[Stokes Pennwalt]

AuntieEmma said

The Rude Pundit weighs in, and lives up to his name by being quite rude. He also, IMO, gets at the truth.

Race is incidental. This is the stupidest article I've read in months. Way to equate some concerned citizens who want to protect the border with stupid rednecks who want to plug some wetbacks.

[AuntieEmma[$]]

Man who held migrants at gunpoint won't be prosecuted

[Stokes Pennwalt]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...International/

U.S. vigilante group targets Canada
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Updated at 8:56 PM EST

Associated Press

Washington — A civilian patrol group that has been monitoring the Mexican border for illegal immigrants wants to expand its mission to the Canadian border, organizers said Tuesday.

Minuteman Project leaders said their volunteers alerted U.S. authorities to more than 330 cases this month of illegal immigrants crossing into the United States across a 37-kilometre stretch of Arizona's southern border. Now they plan to extend their patrol along the rest of the border with Mexico and are helping organize similar efforts in four states that neighbour Canada.

So much for playing the race card.

[AuntieEmma[$]]

Well, it's easy enough for them to say they have a "plan," but let's see if anyone actually shows up. I'm skeptical -- it sounds like a made-up plan, a public relations stunt meant to deflect the criticism they've been getting. But I'll eat my hat (metaphorically only! ) if I'm wrong and they get as large a group on the Canadian border, and they stay as long, as the group they've got now in Arizona.

[cristina1]

Are there as many Canadian illegals crossing the border?

[AuntieEmma[$]]

There are probably none, or something very close to none. Another reason to be skeptical of their "plan."