Posted on 04/05/2005 8:34:29 AM PDT by Kokojmudd
By Michael Marizco ARIZONA DAILY STAR
NACO, SONORA – A Mexican military Humvee moves across the cow pasture; soldiers nod at federal agents in bright orange shirts roving by on ATVs. An hour later, a Sonora State Preventive Police truck moves through a sandy wash, the officers looking for migrants waiting to sneak across the border.
Across the barbed-wire border in Arizona early Monday, excitement grips Minuteman Project volunteers when they observe a group of six people moving north.
Dan Russell, 62, watches the group walking toward him. "They're getting closer," he says. "They could just be reporters." They are.
In the first few days of the Minuteman Project, volunteers have been slowing illegal immigration into the Naco area.They've accomplished that with the help of an unlikely ally: Mexico.
Eager to avoid confrontations between volunteers and its people, Mexico is sweeping the area south of the Minuteman Project clear of migrants.
Gov. Eduardo Bours Castelo has placed 44 members of the new state police force across the border at La Morita, a cattle ranch that leads directly to the border south of Bisbee, said Diego Padilla the governor's Arizona representative.
The state police are working with Grupo Beta, Mexico's migrant protection force, which is plucking migrants out of the desert and depositing them in nearby Agua Prieta, where they are encouraged to wait before trying to cross.
"We are very crude with them; we tell them they may be shot, that there's rancheros out to stop them and hurt them," said Enrique Enriques Palafox, a Grupo Beta commander in Agua Prieta. The point is to terrify the migrants from the area so they won't cross illegally and encounter Minuteman volunteers, he said.
Sunday, the coordinated efforts of the military, Grupo Beta, and the new police force pulled 22 groups of migrants out of the ranch, Palafox said. By Monday, only a handful of people had to be told to go somewhere else.
Even as the Minuteman Project brought national attention to Cochise County's border woes, volunteers had few encounters with illegal entrants. But their presence has brought Mexican law enforcement to this part of the border, and that has had the effect of slowing illegal immigration.
Organizer James Gilchrist said Sunday that volunteers had reported 118 illegal entrants to the U.S. Border Patrol. There is no way to confirm that, because the agency's Tucson Sector says it doesn't keep track of Minuteman callers separately from normal calls from citizens about illegal border crossers.
Since Friday, when the protest started, there have been 78 citizen call-ins leading to the apprehension of 162 people, said Border Patrol spokesman Andy Adame.
What Minuteman volunteers have succeeded in doing is setting off false alarms by tripping ground sensors on the border, he said.
"We're having to work around them instead of concentrating on the actual border where we need to work," Adame said.
The number of illegal entrant apprehensions at the Naco station has dropped.
U.S. and Mexican officials say it's because of Mexico's efforts.
Minuteman organizers say otherwise. "We're having an impact," Gilchrist said Sunday.
● Contact reporter Michael Marizco at 573-4213 or at mmarizco@azstarnet.com.
Thanks for the warm welcome. This is a great forum!
Sure it will help. It helps to read things in context. However, the longer someone posts the more you can take notice of their credibilty. Tropical just signed up today. I don't know a thing about this 5 post wonder. If he wants to make such claims, he is certainly welcome to actually back them up.
>>Thanks for the warm welcome. This is a great forum!<<
You're quite welcome. Yes, but sometimes it gets tense with flying monkeys, Viking Kitties and trolls!
Sometimes you don't even get an answer to a post because the other party doesn't have any! LOL
I appreciate and respect that. I've been a long time lurker and understand the "reluctance" regarding new posters. On the other hand, everyone has to start somewhere! I intend to respect the forum and understand that I'll have to be regarded as a "rookie" for awhile. That's fine.
"No one knows exactly how many illegal immigrants are in the U.S. The Immigration and Naturalization Service estimate is 3.2 million, with an additional 200,000 to 300,000 arriving each year. Most come from the Third World -- the list is topped by Mexico, followed by sizable minorities from El Salvador, Guatemala and Haiti -- but Canada and Poland also contribute a good share."
Tropical said: "Regarding this subject, have you not read the Time Magazine article citing approximately 3 million people crossing the US/Mexico border in 2004?"
Now, see how inaccurate information gets started? 200,000 of ALL countries is a lot different than 3 million from one. One strike against you, Tropical.
Thanks for the compliment. As I understand the rules, you're supposed to acknowledge me in any posts about me as well. You're forgiven! LOL
>>I'll have to be regarded as a "rookie" for awhile. That's fine.<<
And what do you think I am??
So you could find it. Good for you!
Yes! I was waiting till I corrected the inaccurate information you provided before I pinged you. You're also forgiven. Just be more careful with your claims.
Or perhaps you're just displaying your ignorance on the subject (again).
Please stop acting like a fool. You're embarrassing yourself!! You know those numbers are right because they come from the Federal Immigration Department. If anything, they underestimate them, because they know that it's making sane Americans very angry.
You know most of the people on FR are against illegal aliens, but there's a handful of people like you who come on these threads just to stir the waters. You need to stop it now!!
Look what you trouble makers have done to FR and to JimRob. How dare you! Do you know how many people have been banned, or got mad and quit over immigration? Just look at how slow the fund raiser is going!! He's lost a lot of support over it. Shame on you!! I hope all you trouble makers will make up the difference!
I really don't understand why you people think it's OK for illegals to break our laws? Do you think it's OK for them to rape, rob and murder too? Is that OK with you? People who oppose illegal immigration are not wrong. Here's a little news flash for you: Illegal immigration is against the law.
Thanks for looking out for me!
I happen to think this topic can be discussed rationally. I try not to engage anymore in personal attacks. Don't you believe we can have a polite discussion on just about any topic?
So in a couple more months I can just post whatever I want without sources just like you? Cool. That'll make things a lot easier...
All anyone need do is check out their various posts.
Pathetic...
Well guess what: I'm from TEXAS. I see illegals every day, I am paying higher school taxes, property taxes, etc. as a direct result of illegal immigration. I doubt you would be aware of the problem, from where you sit in the Midwest.
I wonder, what is it they are smoking up there in Michigan?:)
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