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.
Not great judgement there.
It seems a little too convenient to me. I hope these guys are checked out very well.
Agreed. I suspect these are anti-minute man infiltrators.
If our government would put sanity, the citizens of this country and its job before its personal politics, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING.
Oh, the humanity! The humanity! / hand-wringing
It should tell the tale one way or the other.
The last thing so called "racist vigilantes" are going to do is pay the guy.
We need to launch a congressional investigation.
Can't we form a blue ribbon commission too? Let's find some moderates to run it. Is Howard Baker available? How about Sam Nunn. The southern accents will play well in red country.
-"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.-
What kind of circus was it before?
Infiltrators!
Now you all knew it was only a matter of time....
the government is against them
the aclu is against them
mexico is against them
the press is against them
They will take even the smallest breach and blow it out of proportion.
Good plan
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