Andy Ramirez is organizing the effort for the Border (Neighborhood) Watch Program in San Diego. I wonder if the press is going to call him a xenophobic racist, too?
Posted on 04/19/2005 8:04:27 AM PDT by dalereed
Minuteman effort may spread into S.D. region
Group plans civilian patrols along border By Leslie Berestein UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER April 19, 2005
The media attention garnered by the Minuteman Project in Arizona since the beginning of April is inspiring similar projects to combat illegal immigration elsewhere, including one plan to bring civilian patrols to the border south and east of San Diego this summer.
An organization formed last year that calls itself Friends of the Border Patrol hopes to gather enough volunteers to patrol from the ocean to the Imperial Valley.
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"If we can pull it off to the Arizona border, that would be amazing," said chairman Andy Ramirez, the Chino-based former executive director of Save Our State, which tried last year to place an initiative on the ballot to bar undocumented immigrants from obtaining driver licenses. "It would be great if we can blanket the entire Southern California border."
Friends of the Border Patrol, formerly chaired by Proposition 187 co-author Ron Prince, is one of several groups interested in putting together a Minuteman spinoff.
"There are a lot of people trying to get in touch with us, to bring the Minutemen to all kinds of places," said Grey Deacon, a spokesman for the Minuteman Project, who said the organizers will soon produce a how-to manual.
Since it began April 1, the Minuteman Project has drawn hundreds of volunteers, as well as journalists from around the world, to Arizona to watch for people crossing the border illegally.
But why civilian patrols would come to the San Diego area, the most heavily fortified segment of the U.S.-Mexico border, is cause for skepticism among some local border-watchers.
"It would be puzzling if it weren't for the fact that their real prey is the media," Claudia Smith, border project director of the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, who focuses on immigrants' human rights.
Then there are logistical challenges. Minuteman patrols in Arizona have been operating in relatively flat terrain, but civilians attempting to conduct patrols in Southern California will have to navigate hills, deep canyons, and in the Tecate area, mountains that prove challenging even for the Border Patrol.
"It's something that will be part of the feasibility study," said Ramirez, who plans to obtain logistical advice from off-duty or retired Border Patrol agents.
San Diego sector Border Patrol spokesman Kurstan Rosberg said he was aware of the group's plan, but that "at this point, we are not going to comment on the situation."
Joe Dassaro, president of Local 1613 of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents San Diego-area agents, said he has been talking to Ramirez but described talks with the union as "very tentative."
While some retired agents might be interested in participating, Dassaro said he doubts off-duty agents will put their jobs on the line to volunteer, even if they like the idea.
In Arizona yesterday, Minuteman organizers announced that chief organizer Jim Gilchrist of Orange County will leave the project early.
"He is declaring it very much of a victory, and announcing Phase Two of what he is doing," said Deacon, the Minuteman Project spokesman. Deacon said Gilchrist next plans to campaign against employers who hire undocumented workers.
Gilchrist, who plans to appear before the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus in Washington next week, will keep the Minuteman Project name. Meanwhile, the patrols will continue in Arizona as planned through April 30 under the name of co-organizer Chris Simcox's organization, Civil Homeland Defense.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leslie Berestein: (619) 542-4579; leslie.berestein@uniontrib.com
"It would be puzzling if it weren't for the fact that their real prey is the media," Claudia Smith, border project director of the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, who focuses on immigrants' human rights."
She sounds worried. LOL
That's what 'dog and pony' shows do very well. Now than the two organizers have split, who will get the children?
DP
pda
more civilian patrols ping
Andy Ramirez is organizing the effort for the Border (Neighborhood) Watch Program in San Diego. I wonder if the press is going to call him a xenophobic racist, too?
Success breeds imitation.
Protecting our borders and coastlines from foreign invaders ~ Bump!
Bush should be ashamed.
they'll find a way. Maybe he's Puerto Rican.
excellent, the press coverage will have to be by helicopter - and they always follow those chases until the criminal is apprehended
this quote is a keeper - people like Claudia Smith are notorious for fanning the flames and being sensationalistic in their declarations to the press, but here she's admitting the "vigilantes" are non-confrontational and not a threat to the well-being or "human rights" of the immigrants. That being the case, she has no reason to worry about this group.
Thanks for the ping HiJinx. The MMP has shown that the illegal immigration can be controlled and that the gov't just does not have the WILL to contain it.
I would love to see the MMP project spread to the entire southern border permanently.
bttt
Wonder if the MSM has ever heard of horses or mules?
Hmm...
Seems like the open borders crowd is starting to panic.
I guess that's why there has been such a concerted effort to smear the MMP.
I've only met adults with the MMP, maybe you should worry about your children...they could use some sunscreen ...they're getting fried...
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