Posted on 04/06/2005 7:32:35 PM PDT by churchillbuff
PALOMINAS, Ariz. -- Minuteman Project volunteers, during limited weekend patrols along the U.S.-Mexico border here, rescued a tired and thirsty Mexican who had become separated from a group trying to illegally enter the United States.
The volunteers, who formally begin extensive patrols along a 20-mile section of the border today to protest Bush administration immigration-enforcement policies, found the man on land owned by Miracle Valley Bible College, where the Minuteman organization has set up a command post.
The unidentified man was described as dehydrated and emaciated. He was turned over by volunteers to U.S. Border Patrol officials and later was returned to Mexico.
It was one of two weekend encounters by Minuteman volunteers with illegal aliens, neither of which resulted in the violent confrontation predicted by some civil liberties and human rights organizations.
In a separate incident, the volunteers spotted 18 illegal aliens entering the United States here and called the Border Patrol, which responded in minutes and took the aliens into custody.
Ray Ybarra, spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Arizona, said there had been no incidents of violence or suspected abuse of the aliens during limited patrols by the volunteers Saturday and yesterday.
Mr. Ybarra, who manned a seven-person ACLU observation site on the border south of Bisbee -- within shouting distance of two Minuteman patrol posts -- said "everything was going very well."
"We're here to protect the civil rights of everyone involved and, so far, everything has gone very nicely," he told The Washington Times during a late-night interview on the U.S.-Mexico border east of Naco, which is separated by a barbed-wire fence that has been cut in numerous spots.
Mexican humanitarian groups, who patrolled their side of the border late into the night, told The Times several people had been spotted huddled in the desert south of the U.S. border -- apparently halted by the presence of the Minuteman volunteers.
Volunteers working a patrol post west of the San Pedro River, south of here, confirmed yesterday that they spotted two separate groups of aliens, totaling about 25 people, heading north who turned back when they saw the Minuteman patrols.
The volunteers, some of whom are armed, have been accused by some civil rights groups and other immigration activists of being racists looking for an excuse to confront illegal aliens.
Border Patrol officials have said the presence of armed volunteers on the border make an already dangerous situation worse, although several field agents said they welcomed them -- as long as they operate within the law.
Minuteman organizers James T. Gilchrist, a retired California certified public accountant, and Chris Simcox, publisher of the Tombstone, Ariz., Tumbleweed, said the volunteers have been warned against any confrontation.
Mr. Gilchrist added that he personally will help prosecute anyone who abuses the aliens or violates their civil rights.
"We mean business, and I assure you we will cooperate fully with federal, state and local law enforcement to identify and prosecute any troublemakers," Mr. Gilchrist said. "We have conducted extensive background investigations and have eliminated a lot of people. We are confident that those who are here to participate are doing so for the very best reasons."
He said the Minuteman Project was "not a call to arms, but a call to voices seeking a peaceful and respectable resolve to the chaotic neglect by members of our local, state and federal governments charged with applying U.S. immigration law."
The targeted patrol areas are the most popular routes into the United States for illegal aliens entering from Mexico. More than 40 percent of the 1.15 million aliens apprehended last year by the Border Patrol were caught in this area.
Why, that sounds like entrapment! Shame on you. :oD(at least, that's what a liberal judge might call it, LOL! Great idea! Maybe you could market the idea somehow. :-D
We went to Langtry -- went to see Judge Roy's place. Also tried to find a place to eat (not much up there, is there LOL) and ate at the gas station up at the corner.
I take that back about not much being up there -- lots of great scenery and photographic possibilites.
I agree that we are lucky to have Mr. Bush instead of Effington. However, Mr. Bush is failing - BIG TIME - to provide border security and act in the best interests of the United States when he continues to allow the porus state of our borders. The failure in Washington (and the WH) is deliberate and absolutely disgusting. We are being drowned with illegals. Have you read the stats? Sorry, friend, but Mr. Bush needs his feet held to the fire on the obscene state of affairs at the border and you are just as wrong on this issue as he is.
The border has been unsafe for over 100 years. And we ought to simply wise up and understand that a fence (of large proportions) is the only way to start to fix this problem. Its silly to just look at the border and say that a small number of border cops can manage this. Its like a joke. We need to stand up and make this work.
I agree. The communists have never had a problem with providing security along thousands of miles of their borders so I see little reason why it can't be done here. What needs to happen is for the spell of votes/contributions for 'R' politicians needs to be broken by actions like the Minutemen because we sure as hell aren't going to see the issue championed by the likes of the MSM or the at-large left.
We'll have to agree to disagree. I don't agree with anything you said, and there's nothing you can say to change my mind about this President or many of his policies.
And why shouldn't citizens pitch in a help with the problem, rather than just yell and point fingers?
Back in World War 11, citizens pitched in to help in many ways, including manning watchtowers...
with friends like some of these posters...
Sure glad my friends and family aren't high and mighty so-perfect people that they write me off the minute I do - or don't do - everything their way
"This helps small businessmen, and weakens the American labor movement, most of whose members are Dems."
Perhaps, if some of us wern't trying to screw the American worker, more of them would vote our way.
Many of these workers are by nature conservative. If certain republicans would stop attacking them we would gain converts.
LOL
Yeah, they had to watch out for all those millions desperate to get into Russia to live!
Thanks for the laugh
So the minutemen report some illegals ..los migras catches them and releases them back over the border where they rest
get charged up and cross over again and again until they are finally successfull...
At least they try..to stop the invasion
that's the nature of a closed mind, no?
Gotta love those CPA's.....retraining to take care of our borders!
Jumping cactus? YIKES!
The stuff I've seen there looks a little bit like the prickly pear cactus we have here -- only MUCH bigger.
and you would do what with them? Put them in jail at our expense? Or just shoot 'em all - But you'll need to get permission from the ACLU first.
I am a loss to understand why more fingers aren't being pointed at - and something done about - the ACLU. They are the ones who have caused the most hand-tying of the law regarding what can be done to these illegals.
No, that's the nature of a disgusted ex-Republican who now has a very open mind.
Gotta love those CPA's.....retraining to take care of our borders!
Don't fergit them lawyers, being rehabed too!!!
"Mr. Ybarra, who manned a seven-person ACLU observation site on the border south of Bisbee"
Always figured they were at their best sitting out in the middle of nowhere conning jackrabbits, instead of honest folks.
As Reagan said, history will tell. But if he doesn't do something about the illegal invasion, his other successes will be marred by this one big failure.
WATCH IT!!! Lawyering is gonna be my new 'profession'.....seems to have a lot in common with the worlds oldest. ---Hat tip to The Gipper, RIP
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