Posted on 11/19/2002 1:38:52 PM PST by Tancredo Fan
County leaders oppose border militia: Tombstone weekly seeks a call to arms
By BILL HESS
Herald/Review -- 11/19/02
COCHISE COUNTY, Arizona -- The Douglas City Council will be asked today to adopt a resolution to oppose a militia group that has organized with a stated purpose of stemming the flow of illegal immigrants and activity over the U.S.-Mexico border.
The organizer of a militia said he will work with other groups of discontented citizens to do the job he says the U.S. government has failed to do.
Chris Simcox, owner, publisher and editor of the Tombstone Tumbleweed, said he is using his newspaper to call the people to arms to protect the border in Cochise County and stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs.
Mayors of Cochise County cities near the border, the county's top elected law enforcement officer and the county attorney agree the federal government has failed in its duty to stop the smuggling of people and drugs, but they called Simcox's call to arms dangerous.
Douglas mayor opposes vigilantes
Ray Borane, mayor of Douglas, which shares the border with a much larger Mexican city -- Agua Prieta, said Simcox's call to arms under the guise of protecting the border has led him to prepare a resolution opposing the move and any other vigilante type action by anyone in the county.
Saying the people who become members of militias are more like soldiers of fortune and mercenaries and that such groups bring animosity and hate, FROM PAGE A1 Borane wants the Douglas City Council to firmly state it is against such groups.
Douglas is a bicultural and binational community, and the "majority of its residents do not wish to encourage, be involved with or associate with these types of people, nor do they want our relationship with Mexico compromised by outside, xenophobic groups perpetuating hatred of humanity," Borane wrote in the proposed resolution.
The Douglas mayor said militias wrap themselves up as pseudo law enforcement agencies who could create dangerous situations for everyone.
Newspaper issues a call to arms
In the Oct. 24 issue, the front page called for action with the establishment of an armed citizens border patrol militia.
"Turn off the T.V. Join together to protect your country in a time of war!," Simcox wrote.
No one is paying attention to what is happening along the border Cochise County has with Mexico, Simcox said.
Although he has no official name for the 43 people who have joined his organization, he said a good title for it may be the Arizona Border Militia.
His organization will be working with the American Border Patrol, Ranch Rescue and any other individuals or groups, Simcox said.
"We are aligning and joining with other groups. We will share information," he said.
Spencer says ABP is different from the militia
The American Border Patrol, which was recently started in Cochise County, also seeks to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs. Ranch Rescue is a group from Texas that has come to Arizona and is involved in similar activities.
Recently, some people involved with Ranch Rescue made news by being accused of causing drug smugglers to drop their loads of marijuana in Santa Cruz County.
Glenn Spencer, the head of the American Border Patrol, said his organization and Simcox's are different.
Saying he is willing to work with Simcox by sharing intelligence, Spencer, who moved to Cochise County from California, said "We have a different philosophy."
Spencer said he told Simcox it was important to stay within the law and warned the newspaper owner that the federal government will probably do anything it can to discredit his militia.
Simcox said, "I challenge the (U.S.) government to stop me from doing what is allowed by the Constitution."
From Simcox's group, Spencer said he hopes to receive information that could help the American Border Patrol.
Simcox says he is unhappy with lack of protection
Simcox, a former California schoolteacher, purchased the Tombstone Tumbleweed in May. Once he moved to the area, he said he became more and more unhappy by the lack of protection the federal government was giving the border.
"Perhaps it is time to display a little isolation," he said. To him, isolation means bringing back American forces from some assignments overseas to be put not only on the southern border, but the northern one with Canada and around the American coastline.
According to Simcox, the United States is being invaded by what he calls refugees. There is not enough room in the country for more refugees, he said, and although he said he is proud the country is a nation of immigrants, America cannot handle any more.
Additionally, Simcox said the federal government has failed to go after businesses who hire illegal immigrants.
The end result is that more try to come into the country, he said.
Dever fears militia will cross an unlawful line
Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever is more concerned that the establishment of a militia in the county could end up with people crossing the line between lawful and unlawful acts.
He, too, recognizes the frustration of many because the federal government's inaction along the border allows illegal immigrants and drugs to flow through the area.
It is the legally established law enforcement at all levels that must solve the problem, not private groups, the sheriff said.
Most of the county residents are good law-abiding citizens, and Dever said, from what he has been hearing, they don't want a militia on the border because they fear such a group will get out of hand.
"We got to make sure that kind of ugly snake doesn't raise its head in the county," Dever said. "We don't want the crazies here."
While elected officials in the county agree the federal government has been negligent in its protection of residents of the county and the rest of the nation, they see the best way to take care of the situation is to force the U.S. government to do its job.
The establishment of a militia, which smacks of the worst meaning of vigilantism, is wrong, they said.
Escapule worries
someone will get hurt
Tombstone Mayor "Dusty" Escapule said, "I don't believe in vigilantism. Simcox is starting a vigilante group, and the end result is eventually someone will be hurt," Escapule said.
"My personal opinion, it's not what the people of Tombstone want," he said.
The number of illegal immigrants and drugs coming across the border are a problem, but a group of citizens going down to the international boundary to stop the flow will eventually lead to a shootout, the mayor said.
Having a bunch of men hiding in the brush, drinking beer suddenly seeing some drug smugglers will end up with dead people and they probably will be the militia members who will not have the firepower of the drug smugglers, Escapule said.
"Creating a border militia is ridiculous," he added.
Beauchamp: Bisbee citizens are against militia
Bisbee Mayor Dan Beauchamp said the creation of a militia and having any other group take on the responsibility of the federal government is a bad idea.
He said he knows ranchers and other property owners near the border are suffering, but the federal government needs to respond to their problems to protect them and the rest of the county's residents.
Unfortunately, the U.S. government has been remiss in fulfilling its obligations, Beauchamp said.
Saying the feeling of the residents of Bisbee is against a militia, the mayor said there is a larger problem that has to be addressed by the governments of the United States and Mexico.
"Mexico has to put its house in order," Beauchamp said. The reason people are fleeing Mexico is because they do not see any economic future in their homeland, he added.
As far as putting a group of armed Americans along the border, Beauchamp said, "I don't think a militia is going to help one iota."
Hessler: Federal gov't should control border
Sierra Vista Mayor Tom Hessler said controlling the border needs to be done by the federal government and not armed county residents.
However, he said that perhaps the threat of creating a militia may give the federal government the push it needs to do its job.
Fortunately, for the most part, Sierra Vista has not been hurt by illegal activities coming across the border, Hessler said.
Simcox said the people who have volunteered for his militia have been checked out using background clearance sites on the Internet.
No one with a criminal past will be allowed to join, he said, adding he wants people from Cochise County, or those who are Arizona residents, to be members of the militia.
The majority of those who have come forward to join are ex-military members or retired law enforcement officers, Simcox said.
He said he will be on the border for 24 hours this week doing what he expects others of his group to do.
Simcox said he has been threatened by "Spanish-speaking people," but hastened to add his organization is not anti-Mexican.
"I'm not a racist, I just want to protect the United States from an invasion of refugees," he said.
U.S. Border Patrol fears group will take action
U.S. Border Patrol Tucson Sector spokesman Rob Daniels said the federal agency does not want non-law enforcement groups to take action.
"We encourage people to give us information, but we discourage civilians from taking their own actions," he said.
Dever said his agency has been chastised by some for not arresting people who have detained illegal immigrants.
Human rights may be violated
Isabel Garcia, the head of Derechos Humanos, a border human rights group, has called county leaders to task for failing to arrest and prosecute people such as Roger Barnett, a Sierra Vista businessman who owns a ranch near Douglas who is said to have detained illegal immigrants.
She said Cochise County is a hotbed of vigilantism.
Dever said having a militia established is not going to help overcome some people's perception of the county as a home for vigilantes.
However, he said he disagrees with Garcia's view that he and Cochise County Attorney Chris Roll have failed to look into complaints that illegal immigrants are being frightened or illegally detained by residents.
Every complaint is investigated, and reports are given to the county attorney and the U.S. attorney for Arizona, Dever said.
Roll said every investigation by law enforcement is reviewed, and so far, none of the complaints have led to charges.
Dever said people have a right to protect their private property as long as they do not go beyond the law, which forbids such acts as shooting at a person on their property.
Roll said charges are filed only "when there is evidence sufficient to give us a reasonable likelihood of a conviction."
I didn't know that they were doing this( drinking)! OR is someone lying? This idiot then says armed drug smugglers come across, but he doesn't seem concerned about that fact, only that some citizens are trying to stop them.
MR Mayor, would I be way off on a guess that you and the local police might have a program called NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH?
Is that not citizens getting involved in the jobs of police, etc?
Mayors of Cochise County cities near the border, the county's top elected law enforcement officer and the county attorney agree the federal government has failed in its duty to stop the smuggling of people and drugs, but they called Simcox's call to arms dangerous.
Simcox's actions are dangerous, but vandelism, threats, and an FBI report of a hit being put out on the Barnet brothers doesn't seem to bother them at all.
Ray Borane, mayor of Douglas, which shares the border with a much larger Mexican city -- Agua Prieta, said Simcox's call to arms under the guise of protecting the border has led him to prepare a resolution opposing the move and any other vigilante type action by anyone in the county. Saying the people who become members of militias are more like soldiers of fortune and mercenaries and that such groups bring animosity and hate, FROM PAGE A1 Borane wants the Douglas City Council to firmly state it is against such groups. Douglas is a bicultural and binational community, and the "majority of its residents do not wish to encourage, be involved with or associate with these types of people, nor do they want our relationship with Mexico compromised by outside, xenophobic groups perpetuating hatred of humanity," Borane wrote in the proposed resolution.
Binational? I beg your pardon Mr. Mayor, but you are the highest elected official in a United States city, Douglas, Arizona. Since we have self-determination and sovereign borders, your assessment that you have a binational city is just plane wrong. Agua Prieta is on the other side of the border. It's in another nation. Wake up! Since when is it xenophobic to desire your land to be respected, your belongings left alone, you animals unpoisoned, your crops untrampled?
Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever is more concerned that the establishment of a militia in the county could end up with people crossing the line between lawful and unlawful acts. He, too, recognizes the frustration of many because the federal government's inaction along the border allows illegal immigrants and drugs to flow through the area.
Has it occurred to Sheriff Dever that Mexican nationals have been breaking the law in mass up to this point? Is he concerned with them crossing the line? Obviously no on two counts!
Tombstone Mayor "Dusty" Escapule said, "I don't believe in vigilantism. Simcox is starting a vigilante group, and the end result is eventually someone will be hurt," Escapule said. "My personal opinion, it's not what the people of Tombstone want," he said. The number of illegal immigrants and drugs coming across the border are a problem, but a group of citizens going down to the international boundary to stop the flow will eventually lead to a shootout, the mayor said.
Talk about sheeple!!! This mayor admits the number of illegals coming across is a problem, the drugs coming across is too, but when someone stands up and tries to defend their land and prevent actual criminality, this mayor chooses to worry about possible criminality by our citizens in the future. What about criminality today sheriff? Is criminality by foreign nationals just A-Okay by you?
Bisbee Mayor Dan Beauchamp said the creation of a militia and having any other group take on the responsibility of the federal government is a bad idea. He said he knows ranchers and other property owners near the border are suffering, but the federal government needs to respond to their problems to protect them and the rest of the county's residents.
Note that this is being turned into a militia issue. LOL These sheriffs spin about as good as the Clintons. This is a patrol, not a militia issue. "American Patrol" Get it??? Not "American Militia"!!!
The leader to this paragraph mentioned citizens don't want the private patrols. Then the paragraph procedes to mention citizens that definately need and want the patrols. Duh.
Simcox said the people who have volunteered for his militia have been checked out using background clearance sites on the Internet. No one with a criminal past will be allowed to join, he said, adding he wants people from Cochise County, or those who are Arizona residents, to be members of the militia. The majority of those who have come forward to join are ex-military members or retired law enforcement officers, Simcox said. He said he will be on the border for 24 hours this week doing what he expects others of his group to do. Simcox said he has been threatened by "Spanish-speaking people," but hastened to add his organization is not anti-Mexican. "I'm not a racist, I just want to protect the United States from an invasion of refugees," he said.
What? I thought we had people with no experience here? Instead we find out down in the article that these are mostly former military and law enforcement people. Good Lord, the writers of these article lie their a--es off. People that quit reading after a paragraph or two would miss this. But the writer could still say, I told em.
U.S. Border Patrol fears group will take action. U.S. Border Patrol Tucson Sector spokesman Rob Daniels said the federal agency does not want non-law enforcement groups to take action. "We encourage people to give us information, but we discourage civilians from taking their own actions," he said. Dever said his agency has been chastised by some for not arresting people who have detained illegal immigrants.
In the absense of sworn law enforcement groups taking part, these are not non-law enforcement personnel. They are a private patrol. That is a valid law enforcement group. Local officials are loathe to admit it.
This is so humorous. Illegals are pouring over the border, drugs are known to be an ingredient of this traffic. But this US Border Patrol Supervisor hopes folks won't interfere with it. Why not? And if you did it, they wouldn't have to right?
Human rights may be violated
Isabel Garcia, the head of Derechos Humanos, a border human rights group, has called county leaders to task for failing to arrest and prosecute people such as Roger Barnett, a Sierra Vista businessman who owns a ranch near Douglas who is said to have detained illegal immigrants. She said Cochise County is a hotbed of vigilantism. Dever said having a militia established is not going to help overcome some people's perception of the county as a home for vigilantes. However, he said he disagrees with Garcia's view that he and Cochise County Attorney Chris Roll have failed to look into complaints that illegal immigrants are being frightened or illegally detained by residents.
Well, what else is she going to say? And who care's about the farmer's rights north of the border? Yes Cochise county is a hotbed of vigilantiism. Would she care to venture a guess why?
Every complaint is investigated, and reports are given to the county attorney and the U.S. attorney for Arizona, Dever said. Roll said every investigation by law enforcement is reviewed, and so far, none of the complaints have led to charges.
That's absolutely right. Every complain is investigated. And the glaring truth is that these folks are NOT mistreating illegal aliens. They are apprehending them and turning them over to the folks that won't do the job themselves. So far, none of the complaints have led to charges. What could be clearer than that?
Dever said people have a right to protect their private property as long as they do not go beyond the law, which forbids such acts as shooting at a person on their property.
What a novel idea. You mean these folks do have rights? They are within the law? Wow, two whole sentences devoted to that in this article, after using code words and phrases like vigilanti, hotbed of vigilantism, militia, soldier's of fortune, mercenaries, crossing the line, animosity, hatred, dangerous, xenophobic and armed a number of times. One phrase actually stated, they exhibited "hatred of humanity." Dang, a little over there the top there?
By the way, if someone shoots at these patrols, they can return fire in the defense of their own lives. The idea that shooting at persons on their property is never warranted is erroneous.
Roll said charges are filed only "when there is evidence sufficient to give us a reasonable likelihood of a conviction."
Dang, sounds a lot like the justice system of the United States at work. Strange...
Tell me, if these folks are "crossing the line" why haven't there been any charges filed?
The truth will win out over time. Look for some trumped up charges in the short term. The success of these patrols is going to blacken the eyes of too many people, public agencies and the federal government.
If that happens, Escapule will have to get off of his ass and do his job. I do not think he really fears for the militia. He fears having to actually work for a living.
To those who say they have no legal jurisdiction in the case of illegals, I can only ask:
Can you say the word "vagrancy?" How's about "trespassing?" "Disorderly conduct?" "Burlary?" "Conspiracy?" Other words that refer to local crimes well within your purview and duty to enforce?
I knew you could.......
Red-blooded Americans value their citizenship and their property rights and have never voted to surrender American sovereignty to a one-world, borderless government.
Q (Reporter): All right. The Arizona Daily Star reports that Cochise County's newspaper has issued a call to arms and is spearheading the formation of a local militia to combat illegal immigration. And my question is, does the President plan to do anything more than is being done by federal authorities, which is not stopping so many thousands of illegals from getting across the border?
MR. McCLELLAN: We have taken a number of steps to secure our borders while keeping in mind the importance that America was founded on the tradition of welcoming immigrants to the country.
Q (Reporter): Not illegal, though -- not illegal immigrants.
MR. McCLELLAN: And the important security legislation just recently passed in the House. So we're taking a number of steps to continue securing our borders.
Also mentioned during this briefing:
Q: Scott, Tony Garza is ready to go to Mexico to be ambassador from the United States. The Mexican authorities continue to take immigration as a first priority for the bilateral relation, and they think with the personal relationship that Tony has with the President they can get something done quickly. It is fair for the Mexican government to think in that way, or just --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, certainly, a safe, orderly, humane migration remains a priority for this administration. And we remain committed to working with Mexico through our high-level working groups to move forward on those issues related to a safe, orderly and humane migration. And I would point out that Ambassador Garza has a long history of working on these issues and working closely with Mexico.
Q: For instance, would the President help the goal of the Mexican government?
MR. McCLELLAN: To help what?
Q: To get the goal of the Mexican government, his friendship with the President would help in any way to the goal of immigration?
MR. McCLELLAN: Sure, he'll be a help to that. The President has a strong relationship with Mexico and with President Fox. And Ambassador Garza will play an important role in that relationship.
Legal immigration is safe, orderly, and humane. Unwanted illegal immigration is the topic, not "migration". Garza was a railroad commissioner. In Texas, I understand that has more to do with the oil business than anything else. This guy sounds like another Ziglar.
Let the militias do want they can to stop the onslaught. More power to them. It's pretty clear that this government has no interest in doing it.
You can find the entire transcript here.
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