For "Thunder on the Border," click this picture:
Posted on 04/30/2005 3:09:34 PM PDT by TERMINATTOR
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's praise for the anti-illegal-immigration Minuteman Project in Arizona is encouraging copycat civilian patrols along the border, some immigrant rights advocates and political leaders fear.
And the response to a budding California operation affirms their concern.
Since Thursday, when Schwarzenegger said on a Los Angeles radio talk show that the volunteers of the Minuteman Project had done "a terrific job" patrolling the southern Arizona desert for illegal border crossers, the leader of a similar patrol planning to come to San Diego in August said he has been flooded with inquiries.
"I don't know if it's a direct result of what the governor said, but I'll tell you what, we've sure had a lot of calls today," said Andy Ramirez, the Chino-based chairman of a group that calls itself Friends of the Border Patrol. "We're getting a lot of volunteers."
Ramirez said the goal is to recruit enough volunteers to patrol from the coast to the Imperial Valley to scan for undocumented immigrants and report them to authorities. Roughly 400 people have already volunteered, he said, many retired law enforcement and military personnel.
Yesterday, Schwarzenegger was standing by his statements, a spokeswoman said, although at a Los Angeles news conference he sounded conciliatory, calling himself "a champion of immigrants."
"I'm an immigrant myself," he said. "Millions of immigrants come to this country, but it's important that they do it in a legal way."
The governor's endorsement of the Minutemen, meanwhile, was called undiplomatic and reckless by numerous Democratic leaders, the American Civil Liberties Union and others.
Rep. Bob Filner, D-Chula Vista, said the governor's comments only inflame and support vigilante action.
"I thought the governor's remarks were extremely irresponsible, and I hope he retracts them as he did previous remarks," he said.
Last week, Schwarzenegger retracted a controversial statement he made about closing the border, blaming its wording on his faulty command of English. But those offended by the governor's latest comments are unwilling to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"I think he should just close his mouth, instead of the border," said National City councilman and longtime community activist Luis Natividad.
On KFI-AM's "John & Ken Show" Thursday, Schwarzenegger said of the Minutemen, "I think they have done a terrific job, and they have cut down the crossing of illegal immigrants by a huge percentage, so it just shows that it works when you go and make an effort and when you work hard."
State Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, D-San Diego, said Schwarzenegger's praise contradicts the federal government's position. President Bush has characterized the Minutemen as "vigilantes." The ACLU also condemned Schwarzenegger's comments as "irresponsible." The governor also drew the ire of Mexican government officials.
"Maybe he confused 'terrific' with 'terrible,' " quipped San Diego's Mexican consul general, Luis Cabrera Cuarón.
But Assemblyman Mark Wyland, R-Vista, defended Schwarzenegger.
"I think that what he is simply saying about the Minutemen is that citizens are reacting, and this is a crisis that needs to be solved right now," he said.
Ramirez, who plans a classroom training session in San Diego for his prospective volunteers in June, said he was happy for the governor's perceived plug. However, he is skeptical that Schwarzenegger will stand by his latest words, given last week's clarification.
A Minuteman Project spokesman said yesterday that the Minutemen plan to take their project nationwide after receiving calls from groups hoping to start their own spinoff projects.
the area east of san diego, in the mountains, leaks like a sieve.
it would require night vision equipment and lots of people.
ping
We had all of that including the mountains, in the Arizona MMP. No problemo!
And? Why don't we throw in some horses, special communications gear, ATVs, etc.?
If you're trying to say it is too tough a job for us to try it, then I say you're wrong. That's precisely why we should do it, to show the naysayers that they are wrong.
Actually, that's precisely what the MMP did in Arizona.
This ain't about race, it's about sovereignty and national security.
I think Luis should be "aired" with every word he says and nation wide until all of us understand the concerns with our borders.
My post is meant to be taken as an understanding of "a loud mouth liberal" doing favor for the cause through idiotic rhetoric created by lack of knowledge from one who is in a position to talk and be heard, however it is to be taken as knowledge to the stupidity of some in power who's last concern with agenda is the sovereignty of our nation.
welcome to FR...you mean governor don't you?
Hablo Espan-ZOT!?!
LOL!!
Wow! That was FAST! :^OBye, Immigrant.
"He's dead, Jim!"
Someday---and that day may never come---the Zotfather might ask a favor of you...
LOL did I tell you how much I LOVE the moderators? Love them? Did I? :o)
The National Council of La Raza, MALDEF, and LULAC, along with California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, California State Senator Gil Cedillo, and the other members of the California Latino Legislative Caucus are deeply saddened.
No, but you've made it clear now! LOL
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