Officials: Man not held against his will

AP ^ | 4/7/5 | ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN

[SmithL]

TUCSON, Ariz. - Authorities determined Thursday that three volunteers involved in a civilian project to watch the border and report illegal crossers did not hold an illegal immigrant against his will.

The Mexican man had told sheriff's deputies that he was detained and forced to pose for a picture holding a T-shirt with a mocking slogan. The shirt read: "Bryan Barton caught an illegal alien and all I got was this T-shirt." Barton was one of the three volunteers.

"The county attorney's office reviewed all available evidence, that indicates that there was no forcible detention, therefore the case is not substantiated, and no charges are pending," said Carol Capas, a spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff's Department.

The sheriff's department, Mexican Consul Miguel Escobar and the U.S. Border Patrol also agreed that the 26-year-old man was not detained, said Capas and Border Patrol spokeswoman Andrea Zortman.

The volunteers involved in Wednesday's incident identified themselves as members of the Minuteman Project - a monthlong effort that has people from around the country spread out along a stretch of the Arizona-Mexico border to report undocumented migrants and smugglers.

Law enforcement officials have said they fear the project will lead to vigilante violence. Mexico's foreign relations department also pledged in the days leading up to the civilian operation to pursue all legal and diplomatic means to stop the volunteers and ensure that they do not violate the rights of Mexican citizens.

Wednesday's incident was the first reporting any possible detention, though volunteers earlier assisted an immigrant in distress.

[Niteranger68]

Injuring or killing people solves nothing.

When they are stealing my property it does.

It only creates bad publicity.

Can it get worse?

Besides, the real culprits here are not the illegals - if I lived in Mexico I'd want to leave to - it's the government officials, elected representatives and irresponsible employers who encourage and facilitate this behavior that deserve our anger.

I agree the Mexican government is nothing more than an organization for pimping out laborers. But, breaking the law is breaking the law!

I don't think Mexicans are too stupid to know right from wrong, but they should try taking over their own country before taking over ours.

[MileHi]

So now you kiss and make up with Bryan Barton, the organizer?

He sounds like kind of a dork to me. The MMP are doing a good thing down there. But every large group has a jerkoff or two. Just like Free Republic has you, that doesn't taint the rest of these good folks.

[DumpsterDiver]

Pinging some good news

[traderrob6]

News service removed their original story replacing it, rather than updating it.Typical covering of tracks more here

[ClintonBeGone]

He sounds like kind of a dork to me. The MMP are doing a good thing down there. But every large group has a jerkoff or two. Just like Free Republic has you, that doesn't taint the rest of these good folks.

Yeah, you like those classy guys who run for office like your pal Rick Stanley. I'll give you this MileHi, no one can pick a winner like you. :)

[MEGoody]

"Law enforcement officials have said they fear the project will lead to vigilante violence."

As opposed to the incidents of violence perpetrated by illegals crossing over into the U.S.

[mike182d]

"Bryan Barton caught an illegal alien and all I got was this T-shirt."

Actually, that gives me an idea for a T-Shirt:

"I voted Republican and all I got was this lousy T-shirt." :-)

...puts on flame-retardant suit.

[R. Scott]

Good.

[DoughtyOne]

What's the deal here? Is Mexican Consul Miguel Escobar now the arbiter of truth? Is he going to be called every time an illegal has an itch?

Send this S.O.B. back where he came from, and let it be known no more Consuls will be entertained until Mexico stops sending it's problems across our border.

[MEGoody]

"Thanks GW for showing your elitist liberal backbone that you grew in MA and act like your a Texan."

What the heck are you talking about? GWB had nothing to do with this. It's not like he marched the military down there to stop these militiamen or something.

[beltfed308]

Thanks for the update!

[Spiff]

So now you kiss and make up with Bryan Barton, the organizer?

No. Bryan Barton did not violate the law nor does he deserve the trumped up scorn from the leftist AP and local papers. However, he violated the Minuteman Project S.O.P. and I've been able to ascertain that he is not what he presents himself to be.

I'm still working to have the guy removed and the evidence I've gathered is moving up the chain of command. He's been strongly reprimanded, but that isn't enough given what I now know about the guy and what he revealed about himself and his agenda during this incident.

Also, you've been told repeatedly that Barton is NOT one of the organizers. Why do you keep repeating that he is?

[Buffalo Bob]

Besides, the real culprits here are not the illegals

Wrong my friend, the illegals are the real culprits here.
I know several folks from other countries who came here legally. They applied for a visa, filled out a ton of paperwork, paid the associated costs, and waited thier turn. Only when they were granted permission to enter this country did they do so.

Those who break our laws and enter illegally are the ones to blame.

[Spiff]

Besides, the real culprits here are not the illegals - if I lived in Mexico I'd want to leave to - it's the government officials, elected representatives and irresponsible employers who encourage and facilitate this behavior that deserve our anger.

Well, I wouldn't go that far. That's like saying that the real culprits in bank robberies and liquour store holdups are not the actually criminals but the people that created the environment that denied them the money and quality of life that they feel that they are entitled to.

[wideawake]

If the bank employees propped the door open and whispered to customers - "hey walk into the vault, take some money, nobody'll say anything" a lot of people who would not normally walk into a bank vault might just do so, and the bank employees would be considered accomplices to the thief's crime.

[Nam Vet]

Hey Spiff ...... great job down there buddy! Be sure to thank everyone down there again for me. Keep up the good work and sift out any and all questionables. Thx again to you all there.

Nam Vet

[ClintonBeGone]

Also, you've been told repeatedly that Barton is NOT one of the organizers. Why do you keep repeating that he is?

We'll, there are conflicting reports as to whether he's an organizer or not. More importantly, I compliment you for being consistent in still wanting him removed.

[Spiff]

We'll, there are conflicting reports as to whether he's an organizer or not. More importantly, I compliment you for being consistent in still wanting him removed.

There are NOT conflicting reports. You posted one single excerpt from an unsourced article wherein Barton claimed he was an organizer.

And, besides that, I am one who would know for a certainty if he was an organizer and I can assure you from firsthand knowledge that he is NOT. I don't care what La Prensa or some other rag says, the truth is that he is only a participant - and not for long either.

[ClintonBeGone]

You posted one single excerpt from an unsourced article wherein Barton claimed he was an organizer.

No offense, but you've provided me no evidence to counter the newspaper story. Until such time I'll consider it a draw.

[sasafras]

"What the heck are you talking about? GWB had nothing to do with this. It's not like he marched the military down there to stop these militiamen or something."

What the heck are you talking about - GW is a RINO liberal elitist who traces his lineage to Mass. and has sold our sovergnty to business for cheap labor. He should march our military down here to enforce our border not stop the minutemen who are patriots and heros.