Posted on 04/03/2005 4:51:20 PM PDT by mdittmar
Volunteers for an effort to patrol the Mexican border reported their first sighting of suspected illegal immigrants, resulting in 18 arrests, authorities said Sunday.
Participants in the Minuteman Project spotted the migrants Saturday near Naco as the volunteers were surveying the border to familiarize themselves with area. When agents arrived, they apprehended 18 people, Border Patrol spokesman Andy Adame said.
"You observe them, report them and get out of the way," said Mike McGarry, a spokesman for the project, which begins Monday and is to continue for a month.
The volunteers reported another illegal immigrant after he wandered onto the campus of a Bible college near the community of Palominas, where about 100 Minuteman participants were staying.
The man walked in and said he needed food and water. Volunteers helped him and notified federal agents, who picked him up, McGarry said.
The man was weary from traveling but did not need medical attention, Adame said.
"It's not uncommon to have aliens that have had enough," Adame said. "They'll walk up to someone's house and ask them to call us. They're waiting on the porch when we arrive."
Minuteman volunteers planned to start regular patrols Monday, fanning out across 23 miles of the San Pedro Valley to watch the border and report any illegal activity to federal agents. It's an exercise some law enforcement authorities and others fear could lead to vigilante violence.
McGarry said about 200 people would be in place for Monday's patrols, although human rights activists and some authorities have questioned whether the project will attract as many volunteers as organizers expect.
Law enforcement officials said the volunteers were keeping the peace, despite concerns they might become confrontational with immigrants. Many of the volunteers were recruited over the Internet and some plan to be armed.
"Everything seems to be going well," said Carol Capas, a spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff's Office.
The Arizona-Mexico border is considered the most vulnerable stretch of the 2,000-mile southern border. Of the 1.1 million illegal immigrants caught by the Border Patrol last year, 51 percent crossed into the country at the Arizona border.
"Everything seems to be going well," said Carol Capas, a spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff's Office.
The pro-illegal immigration crowd won't like this,how long 'til they start something?
18 down, 10 million to go.
I loved riding horseback along Imperial Beach just south of San Diego, point out the illegals to the Border Patrol who were a couple hundred yards away. Man, that was fun. You felt like you were doing something to help.
FABULOUS!! THanks for the update!!
Way to go Minutemen!!
Great news!!
19 doug,9,999,999 to go;)
What do you want to bet that the same people who rail against the "racist vigilante" Minutemen pointing out the illegals to the Border Patrol would have NO PROBLEM with a vigilante group calling the cops' attention to these same illegals working for the evil Wal Mart?
Until they fine or arrest employers who hire illegals they will always find a way to get here.
redrock
It is a well known fact that many illegals coming across the border deliver their back-pack full of contraband and then avail themselves to the border patrol for a free ride home.
The pro-illegal crowd will start something before this is over,they can't afford the Minuteman Project to have positive press.
PING.
Looks like the project is working out A-OK so far.
Correct me if I am wrong.
About 3,000 as in three thousand, cross over every day.
About 2,000 are caught. That means about a thousand a day make it.
That is over 300,000 illegals a year. - tom
Your basic hit piece against the MMP.
That has to be part of it, but most are comming here for work
or benefits of the welfare state.
I wonder how long it will take the courts to put these poor huddled masses back on the street.
"Yeah, we've come across some illegal aliens down here. Can you send some agents to arrest them?"
Border Patrol: "Illegal aliens?"
"We're shocked...shocked, I tell you!"
"We had no idea people were crossing the border there without permission."
"Thank God you people are there. That kind of thing is highly illegal."
"We've had our suspicions about that Arizona border for a very long time...rumors and such."
"We were seriously considering sending some agents to the border to check out the reports."
"We'll have somebody there to arrest them within the week...as soon as we can get some Border Patrol agents down to the border."
I think we probably have about 10 million in the country.
That sign always infuriated me when I was in CA.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.