U.S. border volunteers on the rise, clashes feared - Campo, California

RedNova - Reuters ^ | 7 August 2005 | Tim Gaynor

[Happy2BMe]

U.S. border volunteers on the rise, clashes feared

By Tim Gaynor

CAMPO, California (Reuters) - U.S. civilian patrols out to spot illegal immigrants from Mexico and angry pro-immigrant activists could be headed for a bloody showdown on the U.S.-Mexico border, police say.

The stage was set in April when hundreds of Minuteman Project volunteers, some of them armed, began tracking immigrants on the Arizona border, upsetting Mexico's 10-million-strong community in the United States.

Tensions rose last week when the Texas chapter of the Brown Berets, a Mexican-American group that was allied to the revolutionary U.S. Black Panther Party in the 1960s, said it would confront the Minutemen when they patrol there in October.

This weekend, some 100 protesters gathered in this sun-baked ranching community southeast of San Diego to see off volunteers from the California Minutemen, which broke away from the Arizona-based Minuteman Project, with chants of "racists go home."

Last month protesters here jostled the volunteers, some of whom are armed with knives, pistols and rifles. This time the border watchers kept a low profile and a clash was avoided.

Police in Campo say they remain concerned that violence could erupt.

"When you have a near-riot situation, you really don't want people having guns," Campo sheriff's station commander Mike Radovich said. "It has real potential for violence."

The patrol in Campo ends on Monday. But next month, another California group called Friends of the Border Patrol plans to deploy people, and in October Minuteman Project volunteers are set to conduct surveillance across all four states flanking the 2,000-mile border with Mexico.

FIREARMS, BASEBALL BATS

President Bush has called the border volunteers "vigilantes," and many in Mexico denounce them as "migrant hunters."

But they are allowed to watch for illegal immigrants and tip off security forces as long as they break no laws.

The Minutemen have chapters in 25 U.S. states and have drawn up a standard operating procedure that they say aims to weed out potential troublemakers and ensures volunteers obey the law.

But the California Minutemen, a splinter group organized by retired postal worker Jim Chase, are not bound by the procedure. The group has sent e-mails to volunteers encouraging them to bring firearms, baseball bats and machetes to the Campo stakeout for self-defense.

A leader of the Minuteman Project, which takes its name from a militia in the American Revolution, says he fears that any violence by rivals could wipe out political gains made by the movement since April.

"We have finally become the 800-pound gorilla in Washington D.C., but all that will be thrown out the window if anyone screws up," Minuteman founder Chris Simcox said in a telephone interview.

Activists in Campo, including the Border Angels migrant welfare group and rights group "Gente Unida," or People United, say they will step up their protests.

"They are racist vigilantes who represent the worst of the American spirit," Border Angels coordinator Enrique Morones said. "We're going to be back and we're going to be bigger."

[Happy2BMe]

U.S. civilian patrols out to spot illegal immigrants from Mexico and angry pro-immigrant activists could be headed for a bloody showdown on the U.S.-Mexico border, police say.

[Happy2BMe]

Border Angels . . those little devils . .

===================================

"They are racist vigilantes who represent the worst of the American spirit," Border Angels coordinator Enrique Morones said. "We're going to be back and we're going to be bigger."

[Brilliant]

And if there are clashes, it will be the fault of the President and the Congress.

[mtbopfuyn]

When will the BP imprison those angry pro-immigrant activists each and every time they interfere with BP duties and each and every time they help another illegal.

[gubamyster]

ping

[mtbopfuyn]

Exactly.

[Brilliant]

"angry pro-immigrant activists"

The Angry Left.

[A message]

" upsetting Mexico's 10-million-strong community in the United States

What? Are we now a subdivision of Mexico?

More power to the Minutemen, my prayers and my support.

[Brilliant]

"They are racist vigilantes who represent the worst of the American spirit," Border Angels coordinator Enrique Morones said. "We're going to be back and we're going to be bigger."

This guy ought to look in a mirror.

[mosquitobite]

You know, maybe it would take violence for Congress & the Pres to do something. Unfortunately, I believe they would take the side of the "gente unida" *rolling eyes*

[zzen01]

bloody showdown! Sounds good to me!

[Happy2BMe]

Campo one month ago . .

California State employee Armando Navarro - his salary paid by you the taxpayer - yelling on front lines of an ambush - as protesters are kept from entering front porch by Minutemen

[oldbrowser]

Last month protesters here jostled the volunteers,

"It has real potential for violence."

So when the minutemen are attacked it is called jostled.

And if the minutemen defend themselves then it will be violence, right ?

[NY Attitude]

In todays environment, a border clash is inevitable. The are so many illegals (of many nations) crossing our border. Congress and the President have to stop the PC process.

[Mr. Mojo]

pro-immigrant activists

No, they're pro illegal immigrant activists. Pro-lawbreakers. Then again, they're just taking their cue from (most) American politicians.

[Happy2BMe]

"In today's environment, a border clash is inevitable"

=================================

Yes they are. The scale and size of them remains to be seen . .

Mexican Army Incursions Into The United States

Mexican Army Incursions Into The United States
The Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus ^

Posted on 01/24/2004 9:54:01 AM PST by Happy2BMe

Incursions

During his travels along the border, Rep. Tancredo learned that the Mexican Army and Law Enforcement Agencies routinely make "incursions" into the U.S. A total of 23 were confirmed by the U.S. government in 2001, and there have been over 115 since 1996. The purpose of these incursions is not totally understood, but U.S. officials have speculated that they are designed to help facilitate the flow of illegal drugs into America, either by creating a diversion or by providing cover for the traffickers.

When Rep. Tancredo sent a letter to the Mexican government, the Embassy in Washington, DC sent a curt response to his inquiry, implying that the troops were merely getting lost. Not a single U.S. law enforcement agent on the ground in the southwest has agreed with that explanation.

Rep. Tancredo’s office has begun documenting new incursions as they take place. Most recently, two disturbing incursions have taken place. On May 17^th, a Mexican Army unit led an incursion near Ajo, Arizona that ended with a shot being fired at a Border Patrol Agent. The agent was not hurt, but had two of his vehicle’s windows shot out. On June 14^th, the Mexican Army opened fire (with high-powered .308 rifles) on a vehicle with 20 people packed into it. Six of the passengers were injured, two critically.

Despite Rep. Tancredo’s efforts to draw attention to them, each incident received only spotty coverage. You can read the accounts of each incident by following these links:

May 17^th Incursion:
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020513-27549872.htm http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020523-865103.htm

June 14^th Incursion:
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020615-91529269.htm

The issue of incursions needs to be confronted by the U.S. government before a catastrophic incident involving the loss of life occurs. If you have specific information about an incursion by Mexican military or law enforcement, please contact Rep. Tancredo’s office at (202) 225-7882 or tom.tancredo@mail.house.gov. You will remain anonymous.

* * *

Congressional call for troops on border

* * *

King to push crackdown on illegal immigration (Steve King - IA "Put our military on the border.")

* * *

Mexican Army Incursions Into The United States

[Truth29]

The MSM is hoping there will be bloody clashes and, I suspect, that the Administration would side with the pro illegal immigrant groups and lock up the Minutemen.

[skeeter]

Activists in Campo, including the Border Angels migrant welfare group and rights group "Gente Unida," or People United, say they will step up their protests. "They are racist vigilantes who represent the worst of the American spirit," Border Angels coordinator Enrique Morones said. "We're going to be back and we're going to be bigger."

Is anyone darkly warning these guys might resort to violence? Didn't think so.

[Happy2BMe]

#18