Posted on 04/18/2005 2:41:23 PM PDT by Dan Evans
The largest local union of Border Patrol agents in the country has declared its support for the Minuteman Project in Arizona, while at the same time slamming both the American Civil Liberties Union and President Bush.
According to its website, the U.S. Border Patrol Local 2544, which covers the Tucson sector of the agency, the volunteers involved in the border-monitoring Minuteman Project have been nothing but supportive.
"We want to make it clear because we've had a lot of questions about this we have not had one single complaint from a rank-and-file agent in this sector about the Minutemen," says a statement on the site. "Every report we've received indicates these people are very supportive of the rank-and-file agents; they're courteous. Many of them are retired firefighters, cops, and other professionals, and they're not causing us any problems whatsoever."
The group blames the ACLU for setting off ground sensors in the area of the Minutemen activities:
"Reports of [Minutemen] causing 'ground sensors' to go off are exaggerated because most of those are being set off by the ACLU sneaking around trying to find the Minutemen doing something wrong."
As WorldNetDaily reported, the ACLU has sent representatives to the 23-mile Arizona border area to monitor the Minutemen and report any civil-liberties abuses to authorities. Instead, said Minuteman Project spokesman Grey Deacon, the law group's people are flashing lights, sounding horns and warning off illegals and their "coyote" human smugglers from entering territory patrolled by the volunteers. Deacon claims such activity amounts to aiding and abetting illegal aliens.
The Minuteman Project has attracted hundreds of volunteers, many legally carrying guns and waving flags, from across the country. They plan to keep watch around the clock until the end of the month, intimidating illegal aliens with their presence and alerting the Border Patrol via cell phones or radios when they see people crossing.
The Border Patrol local emphasizes the Minuteman Project is "shifting the bulk of the illegal-alien traffic out of the Naco corridor."
The statement then takes the president to task for his immigration proposal.
"If only President Bush were so supportive of the rank-and-file agents," the site states. "While President Bush hangs out thousands of miles away in the White House, these people are willing to give up their time and energy to actually do something. While President Bush entices millions of illegal aliens to keep coming with his amnesty proposals and his demoralizing statements that he doesn't want Border Patrol agents chasing 'good-hearted people just coming here to take jobs Americans won't do,' the Minutemen are trying to get our laws enforced.
"The Minutemen have made it very clear that they fully support rank-and-file Border Patrol agents. If only we had such support from the politicians we have to work for (aren't we really supposed to be working for the citizens of this country anyway?)"
ping
It sure would be cool if some of the Border Patrol guys were to bust some ACLU types for smoking pot.
Yeah. Talk about potheads calling the kettle black.
Too bad nothing will improve the Presidents thinking on this.
Good for the border patrol. Since the Minutemen are vigilantes, according to President Bush, then so is my wife who works with the neighborhood watch in our community. Unfortunately, I don't believe that President Bush is embarrassed by making such a wrongheaded statement.
I can't help but think that alot of politicians agree with us but don't have the balls to say so for fear of being called racist or anti-immigrants by left wing radical types like the ACLU, and the reconquesta crowd. The people have risen up and are putting a stop to this illegal invasion and doing the job that no politican wants to do (pardon the pun).
I guess my neighbors and I are all vigilantes as well. We all keep an eye on each others homes and watch what's going on in the area.
ping
[[Since the Minutemen are vigilantes, according to President Bush, then so is my wife who works with the neighborhood watch in our community. Unfortunately, I don't believe that President Bush is embarrassed by making such a wrongheaded statement.]]
Bush and the Republicans are making a hugh mistake here. They think that we will stand by and let them promote this amnesty crap just because we agree with them on how strong they are pursuing the overseas war on terror. We will not let them get away with NOT fighting the war on terror at home just as vigoroulsy as they are fighting it overseas. Either Bush is with us on protecting the homeland or he's not and if he's not, then we will find somebody else to back in the next election besides the Bush crowd. (Tancredo is a good start)
bump for later read
The group blames the ACLU for setting off ground sensors in the area of the Minutemen activities:
As usual the rank and file support real honest to goodness American tax payer's constitutional rights..
It's the brown nosing bosses,bureaucrats and upper echelon types that take the side of those who would sell us all out given the chance
IMO
Good for the Minutemen----I think this movement will grow.
People are very angry and it's about time the government starting paying attention.
Excellent article. In an editorial in the Houston Chronicle last week, Naco Supervisory Agent Andrea Zortman was quoted as calling the Minutemen liars when they said the rank-and-file agents supported the MMP.
Really? That's not what the Union's website is saying? Who's lying, Andrea? The agents? The Chronicle? Or you? I know who my money is on.
Now if this can just be reported by the mainstream media. Not holding my breath....
Thanks for the ping. The Houston Chronicle = NY Times = LA Times = Boston Globe = NPR = PBS.
Definitely Rove. But I wonder what percentage Rove, what percentage Bush family interests. Oh wait, they're one and the same!
They're afraid of appearing disloyal to the administration... their careers might be over.
BUMP
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.