Posted on 04/07/2005 6:34:24 AM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
TUCSON, Ariz. - Three volunteers patrolling the border for illegal immigrants were being investigated after a man told authorities he was held against his will and forced to pose for a picture holding a T-shirt with a mocking slogan.
The volunteers said they were members of the Minuteman Project - a monthlong effort that has people from around the country fanned out along the border to report undocumented migrants and smugglers. Law enforcement officials have said they fear the project will lead to vigilante violence.
Border Patrol agents called in deputies from the Cochise County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday afternoon to report that an immigrant was detained by three men who identified themselves as project volunteers.
Carol Capas, a sheriff's office spokeswoman, said the 26-year-old Mexican man told agents he was physically restrained and forced to hold a shirt while his picture was taken and he was videotaped.
The shirt read: "Bryan Barton caught an illegal alien and all I got was this T-shirt."
Barton is one of the three volunteers. He told agents that they waved the man over to them, offered him food and water, and gave him the T-shirt and money before the Border Patrol arrived.
"All they did was provide water and wait for the Border Patrol," Minuteman spokesman Grey Deacon said. "What's the big deal?"
Deacon said project organizers were told by sheriff's officials that the incident wasn't a problem. But Capas said the investigation was continuing and authorities were reviewing a videotape that Barton provided to deputies.
"We do not have the time nor the patience for anyone attempting to turn this situation into a three ring circus," Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Border Patrol apprehensions of illegal immigrants have dropped notably in the Naco area since civilian volunteers began gathering there. Agency spokesmen credit an increased presence by Mexican authorities south of the border and say it's too soon to tell whether the volunteers are having an impact.
The volunteers, many of whom were recruited over the Internet, plan to watch the border throughout April and report any illegal activity to federal agents.
Except for Wednesday's incident, Border Patrol officials said the volunteers have remained peaceful. However, they have continued to unwittingly trip sensors that alert the agency to possible intruders, forcing agents to respond to false alarms. Authorities said volunteers' footprints have also made if difficult for agents to track illegal immigrants.
Yes.
Yes they will. It will look like an assault on the dignity of the alien. They have to be more careful and not screw around like this.
Another version of this AP story has appeared.
Immigrant says volunteers watching Arizona border held him against his will
LOL! I think its hilarious!
MMP will be very lucky if this is the worst that happens in the coming month.
Law enforcement professionals will tell you privately that their job is to enforce the law, NOT TO PROTECT YOU. If you need protection, you need to do that yourself. Protecting yourself is far different from being the "vigilante" who detains, judges, and punishes summarily.
Why does anybody here have any inclination whatsover to take at face value an AP story that says, "...an immigrant was detained by three men"?
Cordially,
That would be the smart move where possible. Below is the CNN version with the hard anti-MMP spin. The quote is also in Bold at the CNN site. Pro MMP stories trickle across the wires, anti-MMP stories explode. Versions of this story sorted by date go on for pages in a search of Google News search of "Minuteman Project"
Border volunteers accused of holding man against will
"..TUCSON, Arizona (AP) -- Three volunteers patrolling the border for illegal immigrants were being investigated after a man told authorities he was held against his will and forced to pose for a picture holding a T-shirt with a mocking slogan..."
Held against his will... Its that called a citizens arrest?
They are really better off not trying to detain or citizens arrest anybody, let alone get one to pose with a T-shirt.
I think the original procedure was supposed to be to simply observe and report to the Border Patrol and let them do it.
its is legal for any citizen to perform a citizens arrest. If they see a crime being committed. This guy did nothing wrong.
I will be very interested to see that video. Is there any chance that it could be streamed on the net? If the tape does not look bad it would counter the story.
If the MSM shows it, I'll bet all we get to see is the politician standing beside the illegal with the T-shirt. The accompanying narration will talk about degradation and exploitation of this poor man.
If so, then all the more reason to set up a web stream if possible.
I heard the video is supposed to be on Hannity & Colmes on Friday. Hope that is true.
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