Posted on 02/09/2009 3:27:42 AM PST by Daffynition
An Arizona man who has waged a 10-year campaign to stop a flood of illegal immigrants from crossing his property is being sued by 16 Mexican nationals who accuse him of conspiring to violate their civil rights when he stopped them at gunpoint on his ranch on the U.S.-Mexico border.
His Cross Rail Ranch near Douglas, Ariz., is known by federal and county law enforcement authorities as "the avenue of choice" for immigrants seeking to enter the United States illegally.
Trial continues Monday in the federal lawsuit, which seeks $32 million in actual and punitive damages for civil rights violations, the infliction of emotional distress and other crimes. Also named are Mr. Barnett's wife, Barbara, his brother, Donald, and Larry Dever, sheriff in Cochise County, Ariz., where the Barnetts live. The civil trial is expected to continue until Friday.
The lawsuit is based on a March 7, 2004, incident in a dry wash on the 22,000-acre ranch, when he approached a group of illegal immigrants while carrying a gun and accompanied by a large dog.
Attorneys for the immigrants - five women and 11 men who were trying to cross illegally into the United States - have accused Mr. Barnett of holding the group captive at gunpoint, threatening to turn his dog loose on them and saying he would shoot anyone who tried to escape.
The immigrants are represented at trial by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), which also charged that Sheriff Dever did nothing to prevent Mr. Barnett from holding their clients at "gunpoint, yelling obscenities at them and kicking one of the women."
In the lawsuit, MALDEF said Mr. Barnett approached the group as the immigrants moved through his property, and that he was carrying a pistol and threatening them in English ...
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
This is sick. No illegal should have any standing in any court in the USA. Any attorney that takes this case deserves to be disbarred.
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)? WTF?
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF),probably.....check their donors
That a Federal judge would entertain this drivel in a court of law reduces further the standing of the courts in the opinion of far too many citizens.
What happened to the idea that trespassing was an infringement of the landowners’ civil rights?
I don’t think they’d like the Texas laws, which allow the ultimate infringement, even to protect property, not just life.
the 9th circus
“Mr. Barnett told The Washington Times in a 2002 interview that he began rounding up illegal immigrants after they started to vandalize his property, northeast of Douglas along Arizona Highway 80. He said the immigrants tore up water pumps, killed calves, destroyed fences and gates, stole trucks and broke into his home.”
Sounds to me like he’s the one should be suing, not the one being sued...
so it's a crime to carry and not know spanish
Any attorney that takes this case needs to be SHOT, then disbarred....
This is beyond insanity, this is the rock hard core of STUPIDITY!
Couldn’t an invading nation just sue us for conspiracy to violate their human rights for not inviting them, paving their landing area with rose petals and hosting a garden party for their conquest?
Say good-bye to private property rights. This may be a case designed to establish that Americans no longer have the right to defend their private property from . . . anybody.
I’m going to ask this again because I can’t seem to find anyone with an answer — here goes:
In 1995 there was a man whose name was, I believe, Cooper. This man was very well known by the federal government for threatening to organize quite a few of the militia organizations in various states and have them assemble on the Mexican border. The task was goin to be to do the job that the INS and the Border Patrol was unable to do — gurad the border.
I listened to this man being interviewed on several clear watt radio stations as I drove across the country while on a furlough in the States.
Evidently, the Feds were able to convince him and those he represented to call off their plans with promises of stricter border control.
This was no small deal at the time. So I am wondering . . . what ever happened to this man and his movement? If anyone knows, please respond.
From a nation of laws and justice AGAINST terror, we have become submissive wussies of justice FOR terrorists.
We argue back when we should charge back.
Same thing with Iran putting onus on us for reconciliation as if they were holier cuz they carry some liberal lapel.
Any judge that allows this case to be heard, in a US court, needs to be SHOT, then disbarred....
“Sounds to me like hes the one should be suing, not the one being sued...”
He should do exactly that. For every suit filed against him, he should file five in return. He should file countersuits against every organization and illegal alien; against every attorney; against the Federal Government for failing to protect his property rights and for failing to secure the border.
It is lawsuits such as this one being reported that make America and Her Courts seem absurd. Even if the suit fails (that will never be reported) the perception is that illegal Mexicans can sue for millions if somebody catches them.
This should never have gotten to trial. You Yanks need legal reform really bad.
Like these:
Contributors to MALDEF - 2002-2003
Download MALDEF Annual Report (PDF Format)
Taken from pages 15 and 16 of MALDEF’s annual report (see above to download).....
[MALDEF’s] vision is of an America where being Latino is no longer an obstacle to full participation in society. We imagine an America where all people, including Latinos, enjoy the same rights and protections under the law; where Latino voices are fully heard and represented in the political process; where all people work together to maintain high levels of justice and fairness throughout the American system. Thank you to all of you who have supported MALDEF throughout this year.
“Millions of Latino immigrants are making valuable contributions to our economy and society, but they live and work unprotected by our laws and marginalized in participating in the life of our nation,” said Mr. Nogales. “We’re a nation of immigrants but it’s always taken great uphill effort to secure the rights of new immigrants. This donation demonstrates my faith in the capacity of our institutions to give new Americans the full measure of their human and civil rights and the opportunity to pursue the American Dream.” MALDEF is deeply grateful to Mr. Nogales for the largest gift by an individual in our history.
Lemme get this straight, these illegal invaders have standing to sue in our courts, but no American citizens had standing to challenge Zero’s citizenship status in their own court system?
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