Posted on 04/07/2005 5:32:55 AM PDT by Kokojmudd
Illegal entrant taped holding 'caught' T-shirt By Michael Marizco ARIZONA DAILY STAR
PALOMINAS - Cochise County officials said they are investigating two Minuteman volunteers after an illegal entrant complained Wednesday to authorities that he was held against his will.
One of the men paid the illegal entrant $20 and gave him a T-shirt to hold up while he filmed the encounter. The T-shirt read: "Bryan Barton Caught an Illegal Alien and all I got was this T-shirt," said Carol Capas, spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff's Department.
It's the first encounter where an illegal entrant has filed a complaint against Minuteman Project volunteers since the monthlong controversial protest started Friday. Volunteers have gathered in Southern Arizona to protest what they said is the federal government's inability to control the border.
Critics said the encounter is the first sign that the Minuteman Project is a "sham" meant to humiliate illegal entrants.
The incident started Wednesday afternoon when Barton, 24, and a second Minuteman volunteer encountered the illegal entrant on Arizona 92 near Palominas, Capas said.
Barton said he gave the man the T-shirt and $20 plus food and water. Then he filmed the man holding up the T-shirt.
The volunteers then called the Border Patrol, which sent agents to pick up the entrant. Once in custody, the entrant complained about being held by the volunteers.
"It was supposed to be funny," Barton said about the encounter.
Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever didn't think so.
"We have no time or patience for anyone attempting to turn this situation into a three-ring circus," he said.
The Cochise County Attorney's Office is also investigating the complaint.
Barton, who is running for Congress in San Diego on the Republican ticket, said he's not worried about charges being filed and that he never held the man against his will.
He said deputies seized the video for evidence. No arrests have been made in the incident.
"This shows what we've been saying all along," said Jennifer Allen, director of the Border Action Network.
"It was nothing but a media sham to mislead the public," she said. "Clearly they misrepresented the situation. They misrepresented themselves."
Minuteman Project organizers Chris Simcox and James Gilchrist could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
● Contact Michael Marizco at 573-4213 or mmarizco@azstarnet.com.
In my universe, foreign criminals have no rights in my country. Zero, zip, nada. Impertinence just adds insult to injury.
And the problem with that is?
Aside from being PC?
The ultimate irony certain to spread nasty feelings like a biological weapon, would be for the Defenders to be arrested for imaginary touchy feely primitive concepts such as "dissing", while the real criminal not only goes free, but is celebrated.
Exactly. Those two dumba$$es from California have tainted the tremendous work done so far by the Minutemen. The MSM will be on this story like white on rice. This clown cares nothing about the Minutemen. He went to Arizona strictly to get a laugh and his 15 minutes.
FYI that clown with the t-shirts cares only about a good photo op for his run for congress. You never answered the question.
An organization who defends the rights of illegal aliens unauthorized entry? On what grounds do they have the right to circumvent the laws of the United States. The question must be asked "Who is aiding and abating here".
I would say this clown with the t-shirts has now done more to hurt your cause than all the protestors like her. This was a foolish thing to do.
"It was nothing but a media sham to mislead the public," she said. "Clearly they misrepresented the situation. They misrepresented themselves."
Looks like Jennifer requires very little provocation before she spouts unsupportable idotic assertions.
During the cold war in Europe and Asia and even now in many areas an illegal entrant to a country would be SHOT dead without any questions .
"You never answered the question."
The INS? Border Patrols? The Police? Armed Services? Take your pick?
...and just for fun, answer your own question: "And who's going to make the decision that they're here illegally?"
I look at those pictures and see no security.
I don't know about you but everytime I get pulled over by someone of authority they ask for ID. It's a good starting place.
You clearly have a deficit in terms of understanding how our Constitution and form of government work. Due process is required for all in this country. I certainly hope if you work in a high rise office building, you're nothing more than a window washer. It's scary to come across people that talk like you, yet appear to lack the cognitive skills to appreciate the ramifications of their comments.
That seems to suggest you think there were positive aspects of the totalitarian governments of the soviet union?
The detainee reported the incident and wants legal action taken. From this I would assume it was not his first time coming across our border illegally.
Make an example of the guy by fining him for hiring an illegal alien.
The vast majority of those participating in the Minute Man Project and and the vast majority of those posting on these immigration threads think exactly the same way that you do.
You are not alone. You are the majority.
Be care man, you are drooling on keyboard.
They shouldn't be playing into the hands of the 'Border Action Network' crowd.
Yes.
And they've obviously gotten in a wad.
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