A Goliad citizen sports a Texas Minuteman flag in his back pocket while attending Monday night's meeting with the group in Goliad. Goliad Sheriff Robert DeLaGarza said that he will work with the group, but expects members to stay within the law.
Posted on 06/22/2005 10:23:04 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
GOLIAD - A day after Goliad-area citizens were introduced to the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps' model to patrol the nation's borders, Goliad County's sheriff said he'll work with the volunteers but stopped short of endorsing the organization.
Sheriff Robert DeLaGarza, who has been working with citizens who want to stop illegal immigration through south Goliad County, said Tuesday he's not sure the program offered by Tombstone, Ariz., newspaperman Chris Simcox is any different than what the residents of Sarco are doing already.
"If they stick to and train to what they're saying, then everything will be fine," DeLaGarza said. "My first priority is that no one is placed in harm's way. I also ask that they do not interfere with law enforcement."
DeLaGarza said he is not in a position to endorse the Minuteman organization. However, he will work with local citizens who are acting within the law.
Kenneth Buelter of Sarco said, "A chapter will definitely form in the next couple of weeks. We will definitely keep y'all informed when that meeting will be held."
Buelter and his neighbors invited the Arizona-based organization to meet with South Texas ranchers over the weekend. The training and recruitment ended with an informational meeting for potential Minuteman volunteers on Monday.
Simcox told the audience that members must submit to a federal background check, and the organization recommends they submit to a concealed weapons check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, even if they don't plan to carry a gun. The organization is adamant that members be stable and have no felony convictions, he said.
The Minuteman's standard operating procedures, which are available on the group's Web site at www.MinutemanHQ.com include the following:
To be courteous
To have the ability to not respond to taunts or harassment from outside agitators.
To observe, report and direct Border Patrol to suspected illegal aliens or activities.
To not verbally contact or physically gesture to or have any communications with suspected illegal aliens.
To obey all laws with the understanding they are held to a higher standard by all.
To understand they can't stop illegal activities on the border but can "change world perception" about homeland security and the border.
To monitor their behavior, the people next to them and the group as a whole to assure compliance with the procedures.
To leave no garbage behind.
To respect the property rights of everyone, start no fires, never drive off-road and follow the directions of all law enforcement personnel. Buelter said, "I've heard a lot of feedback on San Antonio radio stations who have carried the story. Most comments were 90 percent positive with the occasional caller not listening to what's being said."
Simcox and Jim Gilchrist, a California CPA, organized the Minuteman Project several years ago. Simcox recruits citizen border patrols, and Gilchrist is recruiting volunteer accountants and lawyers to investigate businesses that employ illegals, safe-house operators, smugglers and others involved with document fraud as part of "Operation Spotlight."
Not everyone is keen on the idea. At Monday's meeting, Antonio Diaz and members of the Southwest Workers Union protested that the group is trying to take the place of law enforcement, which could lead to racial profiling. Richard Villarreal of Goliad said he has been stopped by law enforcement an inordinate amount of times in Goliad County because he is Hispanic.
Robin M. Foster is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-275-6319 or cueroadv@vicad.com.
A Goliad citizen sports a Texas Minuteman flag in his back pocket while attending Monday night's meeting with the group in Goliad. Goliad Sheriff Robert DeLaGarza said that he will work with the group, but expects members to stay within the law.
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A day after Goliad-area citizens were introduced to the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps' model to patrol the nation's borders, Goliad County's sheriff said he'll work with the volunteers but stopped short of endorsing the organization.
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Saw this in the cable news reports last night. As expected the ACLU and pro-illegal-immigration lobbyists are screaming their heads off. Here's hoping the "Don't mess with Texas" attitude will win the battle!
If Sheriff DeLaGarza had spent any time looking into the history of the MinuteMan Project (short as it is), he would not need to make that statement.
I can't put this down to MSM filtration of the truth...you cannot know what happened in Arizona in April - 2 short months ago - and still make anything approaching that statement. It would have been more like:
If they do here what they did in Arizona, then everything will be fine," DeLaGarza said. "My first priority is that no one is placed in harm's way. I also ask that they continue to assist law enforcement as they have in the past."
BTTT...
BTTT
Americans trust the Miutemen, Sheriff, no reason why you shouldn't trust them too. Could it be that you don't want national attention to the Mexican invasion??
For "Thunder on the Border," click this picture:
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
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