Two Illegal Immigrants Win Arizona Ranch in Court Fight

The New York Times ^ | 08/19/05 | Andrew Pollack

[RoyalsFan]

By ANDREW POLLACK Published: August 19, 2005 DOUGLAS, Ariz., Aug. 18 - Spent shells litter the ground at what is left of the firing range, and camouflage outfits still hang in a storeroom. Just a few months ago, this ranch was known as Camp Thunderbird, the headquarters of a paramilitary group that promised to use force to keep illegal immigrants from sneaking across the border with Mexico.

Now, in a turnabout, the 70-acre property about two miles from the border is being given to two immigrants whom the group caught trying to enter the United States illegally.

The land transfer is being made to satisfy judgments in a lawsuit in which the immigrants had said that Casey Nethercott, the owner of the ranch and a former leader of the vigilante group Ranch Rescue, had harmed them.

"Certainly it's poetic justice that these undocumented workers own this land," said Morris S. Dees Jr., co-founder and chief trial counsel of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala., which represented the immigrants in their lawsuit.

Mr. Dees said the loss of the ranch would "send a pretty important message to those who come to the border to use violence."

[kennyo]

Maybe we should just wait until they take possession and then go there and keep up the border patrol.Who knows,maybe they'll rough us up and we can get the land.I thought it was interesting how the attorney for the illegals referred to them as "workers".

[SC33]

Thank you President Bush.

[johnb838]

As I'm sure you know, the British band played "The World Turned Upside Down" as they marched out of Yorktown. It's a nice tune. We should all learn it. Maybe it should be our theme.

[johnb838]

How are we going to take on the Matrix? The Machine? I'm not sure I see it happening. It would have to start with some massive demonstrations I guess.

[r9etb]

I thought it was interesting how the attorney for the illegals referred to them as "workers".

They probably were "workers," who had no doubt been hired by Americans at least once in their lives. Why aren't you asking about the Americans who hired them?

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

[johnb838]

Very true == they are not immigrants. They are aliens, illegal aliens. And where is the proof that Nethercott pistolwhipped one of them? Hearsay?

[r9etb]

I would suggest that the remote desert would be a difficult place to determine what happened to an illegal decedent found with a bullet in his head.

Gosh. I guess we don't have to wonder where the lefties could possibly get the idea that the Minute-Man thing is a haven for frustrated nazis.....

[Bird Jenkins]

STFU, RINO. Reading your past posts tells me all I need to know about you. One snarky comment after another. You have the stink of a liberal.

[Surtur]

It sounds like it is almost time to "water the tree of liberty".

[lastchance]

Wow this is great news. I have always wanted to own a large tract of property. Now that I know I can trespass and claim injury when an owner tries to remove me from the land my dream is just a lawsuit away. What, you say I also have to be an illegal alien? Darn always a catch.

[r9etb]

One snarky comment after another. You have the stink of a liberal.

LOL!

Do you have anything rational to say to me, or do you simply like the rainbow effect as the light from your monitor refracts through your spittle?

[Redbob]

"Certainly it's poetic justice that these undocumented workers own this land," said Morris S. Dees Jr.,..."

I'd tell you what I think "poetic justice" would be with regard to Mo Dees, but this is a family forum, and what I have in mind isn't nice...

[Kokojmudd]

In Cochese county AZ if an illegal breaks a fingernail and files a civil suit he has an excellent chance of collecting damages.

[Publius6961]

Don't have time now, but do I have comments!
Later...

[moehoward]

Not shot?

I have followed this story from the beginning, and am well aware of the ever changing account from these two Illegals. That's one of the reasons there was a mistrial in the criminal case.

"A juror who voted not guilty told the San Antonio Express-News that there were inconsistencies in the immigrants' testimonies and a report submitted in evidence was not addressed in the trial."

The border patrol WAS called when the two were dropped off at the Sutton gate.

[Kokojmudd]

"There is no such thing as an "Illegal Immigrant"

You are right they are defacto legal immigrants because the laws are not enforced on purposed. Interesting how lobbyists, lawyers and the liberal news have employed a successful pincer movement of graft, coercion and political correctness.

[Modernman]

No, they don't. They are here by breaking a law, if they get harmed it is because they were committing a crime and in it's commission were harmed.

The legal question is whether the ranch owners had the legal right to do what they did to these illegals.

The fact that illegals are breaking the law does not give others the right to commit crimes and assaults against them.

The only legal standing they have is to be prosecuted for being here illegally and any illegals with them are to be prosecuted for causing harm to which ever illegal was injured.

You don't really understand how the law works.