Border Patrol Complains That Volunteers Are Tripping Sensors Used to Detect Illegal Crossers(DRUDGE)

AP ^ | 4/4/05 | Arthur H. Rotstein

[Crackingham]

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. Scores of participants in the Minuteman Project began assembling late last week and planned to begin regular patrols on Monday, in an exercise some law enforcement authorities and civil rights groups fear will result in vigilante violence. Many of the volunteers were recruited over the Internet, and some planned to be armed. Over the past few days, they have set off sensors, forcing agents to respond to false alarms, said Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Jose Maheda.

"Every sensor has to be addressed," Maheda said. "It's taken away from our normal operations."

The volunteers planned to start fanning out Monday across 23 miles of the San Pedro Valley to watch the border and report any illegal activity to federal agents. The idea, according to project organizers, is partly to draw attention to problems on the Arizona-Mexico border, considered the most porous 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.

Jim Coniglio of Tucson, who plans to patrol with other volunteers this week, said residents in some areas of the border have complained of being "overrun routinely" by migrants. "They're feeling insecure," he said.

The Border Patrol opposes the operation. "The possibility for something going drastically wrong is very high," Maheda said.

[mdittmar]

In the Naco area of the Tucson sector last year, 118 border agents were assaulted, said Jose Maheda, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

"These minutemen are causing a disruption in our normal operating procedures,' Maheda said over the growing chants of the crowd. "Now we have to worry about running into civilians in the dark night out there in the desert, armed civilians without training. We do not encourage this type of participation."

[shellshocked]

"Funny that 4000 per day couldn't trip their sensors, but 100 or so "vigilantes" can upset their applecart.
"

I had the same thought.

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

"Funny that 4000 per day couldn't trip their sensors, but 100 or so "vigilantes" can upset their applecart."

I wish I could hear him respond to your statement.

Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com

[OKIEDOC]

The MSM is cutting those guys to pieces.

Just The Facts Ma'am.
OK Sgt Friday here goes.
The opposition to these Minutemen was about five (maybe an over estimate)dried up, really ugly, weird, PETA loving anti-American, anti-Pro Life, pro Communist, Environuts. These women are living proof that highly educated but ignorant of life people with NO Common Sense abound in the ranks of the extreme liberal left.

[Doctor Stochastic]

The Border Patrol should just arrest everyone tripping a sensor.

[azhenfud]

I suppose their warning light was actually blinking instead of a constant "on".

Its on, off, on, off is very distracting, don'tcha know...;-)

[azhenfud]

"The Border Patrol should just arrest everyone tripping a sensor."

Why start something new?

[azhenfud]

"Well, you see this here "ON" light? It means it's a workin'. If it blinks, we've got a prollem. Get it?"

[B4Ranch]

(Sen. Jack Harper, R)

"I don't know why people think the United States Constitution applies to illegal aliens," he said.


"What part of 'illegal' don't we understand?" he asked.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1373464/posts

[doc30]

Why is the border patrol complaining about tripped sensors? Seems like they never cared when illegal border crossers tripped them.

[mdittmar]

Mario Villarreal, a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, announced that the agency plans a major operation to add manpower and equipment to the busiest parts of the Arizona-Mexico border.

Just who is Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Jose Maheda,a spokesman?,a Supervisor? hmmm?

[harrowup]

The Border Patrol should just arrest everyone tripping a sensor.

Ah, the irony of it all.

[Eagle of Liberty]

"Every sensor has to be addressed," Maheda said. "It's taken away from our normal operations."

And normal operations would be.........

[injin]

sort of reminds you of McNamara's electronic wall , don't it?
That didn't work very well to keep the NVA out of So. Vietnam
and these sensors probably don't do much to alert to illegals
crossing with padded feet. Perhaps they add to a sense of complacency that the ICEmen can relax in the control centers
and monitor sensors rather than be feet on the ground day & night.
All power to these concerned patriots that are spending their time bringing attention to this dire issue. This effort should be made to go on indefinitely , that would make a real difference and force real change . Maybe eventually even Mr. Bush would apologize for calling these good people 'vigilantes' ? They deserve far better than that.

[Ramonan]

Why complain about the sensors being tripped when you never respond to find out who tripped them?

[AZGunSlinger]

Living in Arizona we know those sensors (if they really exist in any meaningful density, color me dubious) are going off more than a Gap store customer counting chime at the local mall...during a sale.

I think we have the problem clearly identified. Whose fault is it if the BP can't tell the difference between illegals and the minutemen? I would like to see the Border Patrol welcome these guys and take the opportunity to work with them with some guidance and coordination. The BP could turn them into a human version of more advanced "sensors"...think of the progress they'd make! But, then again...that makes too much sense. Better to keep both sides uninformed, and with that pigheaded position truly increase the chances for something really terrible to happen.

[Kokojmudd]

I wonder how much this system of sensors costs? Who monitors the sensors......A.D.T?

Howzabout scrapping the gizmos and building an Israeli style wall instead?

[mdittmar]

Your basic hit piece against the MMP.

Omniscient ping.

[Spiff]

Attention idiot Border Patrol managers with obvious political agendas: This entire month the Minuteman Project volunteers ARE the sensors!! Sheesh!