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Posted on 04/01/2006 6:08:20 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
FALFURRIAS - The Minutemen are back - with more volunteers, better technology and an unwavering resolve to spark the federal government to seal the borders.
Today begins the third month-long "Secure Our Borders" operation. The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps patrolled the southern and northern borders in October. Civilian border observers will be doing much of the same throughout April.
The patrols will be ongoing in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, New Hampshire, New York and Washington.
But this time, the difference is that the full U.S. Senate is tackling contentious immigration reform in Washington.
The organization hopes its patrols will counter the numerous school walkouts and immigration rallies that activists have staged around the country.
"The original border Minuteman, Cesar Chavez, warned us decades ago that lawlessness breeds lawlessness, that allowing illegal immigration would drive down wages and import poverty. His predictions have been proven accurate," said Chris Simcox, president and founder of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.
"The current demonstrations are a not-so veiled threat of civil unrest if the government dares act to secure our borders."
In Texas, the Falfurrias ranch of state director Michael Vickers will serve as the main stomping ground for the anti-illegal immigration group. His ranch, just south of the Falfurrias U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint off U.S. Highway 281, is a hot spot for illegal immigrant traffic.
Vickers has said illegal immigrants damage his fences - providing an escape route for livestock - and leave trash on his property as they try to circumvent the checkpoint.
In the Border Patrol's Rio Grande Valley Sector, the area near Vicker's ranch has been identified as the deadliest spot for undocumented immigrants. The leading cause of deaths is heat.
Vickers - a South Texas veterinarian specializing in treating animals bitten by poisonous snakes, and the discoverer of what became known as the Ames strain of anthrax - was appointed to the state director post in March. His duties have included recruiting volunteers for the movement, enforcing standard operating procedures and overseeing operations of local Texas chapters.
It is still not clear where exactly in Texas the patrols are scheduled.
In October, a handful of Minutemen quietly patrolled private property in the Rio Grande Valley. The problem then was manpower, said Al Garza, former state director turned national executive director.
"This time, I'm trying to stretch it out," he said, to address the problems in the Laredo and Del Rio areas.
The response to calls for volunteers has been more favorable this time around, Garza said.
Whereas nationally the Minutemen activated about 4,200 people last October, about 7,000 have signed up this time.
In Texas, the group has about 250 volunteers, he said.
"The goal is virtually the same - still hammering on Congress to enforce the laws ... We have to restore our (American) integrity. We're not going to let up on our government," Garza said.
The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps volunteers do not detain border crossers, he said. "We observe, spot and report."
"We are not leaving until relieved by the military," Garza said.
And the Minutemen understand that could be quite a while. Even if harsh border security measures win in Congress, the mandates could take years to implement.
The Minutemen oppose any sort of guest worker program.
"You might as well say its amnesty," Garza said.
"We want things changed," he said. "We sent a very strong message to Congress, to represent us as Americans. They took a sworn oath. American citizens will no longer take the bureaucracy and ideology created by the illegal immigrant movement."
They could be anywhere, Cari!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
I am planning on signing up for the minutemen even though I live nowhere near the southern border. As soon as I can get travel money together, I'm there.
Vickers has said illegal immigrants damage his fences
If I were not a newlywed, I'd be there!
So, Minutemen get my moral support and a few bux until I can talk my wife into a South Texas camping trip vacation!
I don't think that most La Raza supporters are aware that Chavez was against illegal immigration.
I was unaware of this also. Guy was a visionary. Too bad We didn't listen to him back then.
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