Posted on 06/09/2005 3:35:23 PM PDT by John Jorsett
Saying that it needs more time to prepare volunteers, a Chino group planning citizen patrols at the Mexican border near San Diego this summer has rescheduled the launch date for Sept. 16, Mexican Independence Day.
Border Watch organizer Andy Ramirez said he has received more than 700 applications and wants to make sure volunteers are properly trained and equipped before beginning the patrols, originally planned for Aug. 1.
"There are a lot of logistics involved," said Ramirez, whose grandfather was a Mexican immigrant.
Border Watch is modeled after the Minuteman Project, which drew hundreds of citizens to Arizona in April to help deter illegal immigrants from crossing into the United States.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger praised the Minutemen, saying that the federal government is not doing its job protecting the borders. But President Bush has denounced the brigade as vigilantes.
The goal of the California effort is to support Border Patrol agents and continue raising awareness about the poorly secured border, Ramirez said. Mexican Independence Day was chosen to show support for Mexican residents, he said. If there were more job opportunities in Mexico, he said, there would not be such a severe illegal immigration problem.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Lots more video as well to show pictures of them being the only non-violent ones there.
The North County Times
Border watch group postpones vigil
By William Bennett
Citing logistical and safety concerns, the leader of an anti-illegal immigration group said Monday that he is postponing his plans for a controversial border watch this summer along eastern San Diego County's portion of the U.S. Mexican border.
Andy Ramirez, founder of Chino-based Friends of the Border Patrol, said so many people have volunteered to patrol the border with his group that officials with his organization decided to push the kick off of the one-month operation from Aug. 1 to sometime in September. Ramirez said he wants to make sure his organization is able to provide volunteers with things like sufficient training, portable toilets, food and shelter.
"We have been hit by such an overwhelming response from volunteers from all over ---- more than 700 now ---- that we need that extra time," Ramirez said Monday.
He said he also wants to give law enforcement officials extra time to make the necessary preparations for policing the border watch and what could turn out to be thousands of volunteers, as well as the groups that oppose them.
The border watch is patterned on a similar vigil held during the month of April known as the Minuteman Project.
Hundreds of volunteers fanned out along Arizona's border with Mexico to observe illegal immigrants crossing into the United States and report them to the U.S. Border Patrol. The project stirred controversy across the nation, with some citizens and politicians praising the group's efforts to draw attention to the staggering dimensions of illegal immigration and other groups calling it a racist publicity stunt.
In recent weeks, officials with organizations on both sides of the illegal immigration issue, as well as law enforcement officials, have expressed concerns about the possibility that simmering tensions between the opposing groups could boil over this summer during the border watch in east San Diego County.
"Law enforcement needs to get their plans ready as well. If you are expecting 1,000 and all of sudden, 3,000 show up, that means that law enforcement needs to pull more reserves in," Ramirez said.
Another group, Oceanside-based United States Border Patrol Auxiliary, is also planning a border watch. That watch is scheduled to start July 18 in the Campo area. Officials with that group could not be reached for comment Monday.
By waiting until September, Ramirez also hopes that temperatures will have cooled somewhat and that he will be able to recruit still more volunteers, he said. He said that several volunteers have told him that because August is such a popular vacation month, postponing the vigil until after Labor Day will increase the likelihood of more people joining.
A Sheriff's department official said Monday that he appreciates Ramirez postponing his vigil until September. Having only one vigil to deal with this summer, rather than two, should reduce the demands on Sheriff's deputies, he said.
"This will make it more manageable for us," said sheriff's department spokesman Capt. Glen Revell.
The news of the delay struck the right note with Christian Ramirez, the San Diego office manager for international human rights organization American Friends Service Committee.
"It means one less group to deal with in San Diego during the summer," he said Monday.
"Regardless of how many vigilante organizations come to San Diego, (we) will take a public stance against them and we will call upon officials throughout the county to make sure they take a leadership role on this," Ramirez added.
Smart move. The harvest season will almost be over. Much less border traffic. Kids will be back in school and not on the fence.
We have Andy Ramirez helping out the Border Patrol, and then we have this other Ramirez:
The news of the delay struck the right note with Christian Ramirez, the San Diego office manager for international human rights organization American Friends Service Committee."It means one less group to deal with in San Diego during the summer," he said Monday.
"Regardless of how many vigilante organizations come to San Diego, (we) will take a public stance against them and we will call upon officials throughout the county to make sure they take a leadership role on this," Ramirez added.
You're right, I noticed also the two people both with the surname Ramirez. Sloppy and incomplete reporting here, because the reporter should have addressed this fact, and more importantly whether they were or were not related.
ping
Here's the take on Minutemen by the AZTLAN folks :::
http://www.aztlan.net/minutemen_stashing_explosives.htm
So they think WE stage terrorist acts then blame them on "certain Palestinian and Islamic groups"? What a twisted group of Jackasses!
Bush did NOT specifically refer to the borderpatrol groups as 'vigilantes'. That is merely an MSM label that they are attempting to promote during a recent news-gathering event.
I believe he used the term - vigilantes - in direct response to a reporter's question about the Minutemen. No doubt some competent FReeper will dig up and post the actual exchange.
I love that pic of what looks to be a 70-something Hal Netkin labeled as a "terrorist".
What a bunch of maroons.
You are simply WRONG.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/03/20050323-5.html
Q "And, President Bush, I wanted to ask you about your opinion about those people who are hunting migrant people along the border."
PRESIDENT BUSH: "I'm against vigilantes in the United States of America. I'm for enforcing law in a rational way. That's why you got a Border Patrol, and they ought to be in charge of enforcing the border."
Enough?
Please refer to #14 on this thread (many thanks, azhenfud). He did not specifically state that the Minutemen were vigilantes at all. Think about it.
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
It is remarkable how the Voz de Aztlan can so blatantly lie about the facts without a twinge of conscience. I guess they know they have some adherents who will not read other points of view and will simply believe this rot.
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