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."

[ConsentofGoverned]

"This has the feel of developing into a 2nd Mexican-American war!"

That war is already on just look at the killings on the border..the deaths of US law enforcement..

The next step will be the CIVIL war of the far left illegal gangs who have set up operations on both sides of the border and who will attack Americans like the MM who are stopping the LA RAZA invasion plans..the war is NOW

[international american]

"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." "

We still have enough Americans white, black and hispanic, to push these goons into the lake.

[international american]

Thank you Mr. Bush for allowing thugs, gangsters and " users" to plunder our country. I predict a civil war within
24 months if nothing changes.

[devolve]

[ConsentofGoverned]

wow great more truth then the MSM can handle could we post this on DU what a laugh that would be LOL good job

[TheDon]

I was driving in Prescott, AZ and noticed a large number of men loitering around a store waiting for day jobs. Illegal aliens from Mexico? You be the judge.

[Dead Corpse]

I'll believe it when I see it. More than likely that Giant 'll just grumble in its sleep or change the channel back to the latest Survivor or Real World.

I've lost what little faith I had left in the American Populace.

[Happy2BMe]

"This is all about trying to provoke the MM into doing violence.

If that happens the MSM will scream and try to kill two birds with one stone: Keeping the borders open for ILLEGALS and squashing those awful gun owners."

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There is much more at stake here than just immigration control . .

[Iscool]

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

Well Barney Fife better call in someone to help protect the law abiding Minutemen...

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.

It's not about politics...It's about saving our country...Politics is the reason we're in the poor shape we are...

[Iscool]

This could get very ugly. With the Brown Panthers, et. al. going to "back up" the Border Angels there is bound to be a White Supremacy Group that will be looking to "get involved." This is not good for either side. As of now, I see a really big problem with all of this and the boil it is coming to. Anyone else agree or disagree?

I don't care who gets in as long as a lot of people get in...I don't care if it's the White Knights, the Queers for Beers or the International Bridge Club...This is America's and American's fight aganst illegal invasion...

I say, 'Git 'er done'...

[Types_with_Fist]

I suspect, that the Administration would side with the pro illegal immigrant groups and lock up the Minutemen.

That's exactly what I expect to see happen.

[Travis McGee]

---

U.S. Constitution Article 4 Section 4:

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,

and shall protect each of them against Invasion;"

---

Invasion: \In*va"sion\, n. [L. invasio: cf. F. invasion. See Invade.] [1913 Webster]

1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.

[Iron Matron]

If a foreign army is on this soil, and if said army fires a shot..do they become "fair game" for USA citizens?

I think the Constitution says they do (if attacked by a foreign militray force or agent, I WILL RESPOND in kind...that's how I read it, anyway.

this is not a clash..it is WAR.

[Iron Matron]

I suspect, that the Administration would side with the pro illegal immigrant groups and lock up the Minutemen.

In that event..the Administration fails its constitutional duty..there is a fix for a Government who seeks the overturn of its own people..

[Happy2BMe]

"Aren't machetes illegal in California?"

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Why don't we ask these people?

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[BurbankKarl]

where is the picture of Bush driving that pickup truck?

[EagleUSA]

Isn't it amazing that Washington, DC is just fiddling, while these tensions build. In the school I was taught in, we call that major dereliction of duty, and total irresponsibility. Too bad Washington's arrogance makes it feel so unaccountable to Americans --- even when its country is invaded by criminals and law-breakers.

[moehoward]

The momentum has been building for years and I agree that the next election cycles will be pivotal.