CIVILIAN BORDER PATROLS SCRUTINIZED

The Arizona Republic ^ | Nov. 23, 2002 | Hernán Rozemberg

[madfly]

PUERTO PEÑASCO, Sonora - Concerned about the growing number of armed civilians in southern Arizona patrolling the Arizona-Sonora border on their own, the leaders of both states and a powerful cross-border lobbying group called Friday for investigations to see if any of the patrols are breaking the law.

The Arizona-Mexico Commission took up the issue during its semi-annual conference this week in Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point, recommending that Arizona officials "address the vigilante situation in Cochise County."

The commission is a public-private organization with offices in Arizona and Sonora, chaired by each state's governor and which has strongly influenced cross-border relations for more than four decades.

The issue of "vigilantes" in Arizona's border region is not new, but until this year, most talk focused on rancher Roger Barnett, who made international headlines for detaining illegal crossers on his 22,000-acre ranch near the border in Douglas.

But newly formed groups have made their presence known in the area. They include American Border Patrol in Sierra Vista, which videotapes illegal crossings, and Texas-based Ranch Rescue, which organizes groups, including volunteers with military training, on missions to protect ranchers who encounter crossers on their property.

Gov. Jane Hull, Gov.-elect Janet Napolitano and Sonora Gov. Armando López Nogales all spoke on the issue Friday at the conclusion of the conference. The groups are not particularly welcome, because they create public unrest, but none will be prosecuted unless and until evidence of unlawful acts surfaces, all three leaders concurred.

Napolitano said she has already talked with county, state and federal law enforcement officials in Arizona and is confident they have not overlooked the matter. When and if there's enough evidence to go after these groups, then they'll be targeted, Napolitano said.

The commission's border affairs committee, composed of border-town mayors, was the group that issued the recommendation on border civilian groups.

The committee also tackled other immigration-related subjects, such as calling for Arizona to serve as the first test site for a federal guest worker program, which would allow Mexican citizens to cross the border legally for work. Also, it asked for an application fee cap on biometric cards used by Mexicans to get across the border, mostly to shop.

The commission's other theme-based committees also offered recommendations for the Arizona and Sonora governments to consider.

Those included placing more U.S. agricultural inspectors at the border for swifter transportation of Mexican cattle border into Arizona; creating new lanes at Arizona's main ports of entry so border commuters don't get stuck in traffic; and conducting an air-quality study in the border region near Yuma and San Luis.

Reach the reporter at hernan.rozemberg@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8480.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

As for the American traitor-governors, they should all be recalled.

Mexico wants open borders. I have no idea what the motives of these governors are, assuming they're not traitors and want to protect and preserve the Constitution, the rule of law and our sovereignty.

[nicmarlo]

And I certainly wouldn't want illegals running around on my property at all hours of the day/night; and what about teenage girls living at these properties, or little children? What about the possibility of rape? murder? It's okay to trespass, if your an illegal? Just ludicrous that these property owners, US citizens, are being vilified for protecting this constitutionally protected rights.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

I'm so sick of these illegal hoardes. I wonder when we're going to wake up?

Even Democrats and Gays don't like illegals. (I made a thread about gays and illegals recently).

[Maneuver Damage 1]

"I have no idea what the motives of these governors are"

They're busy learning Spanish for sycophants so they can look PC and curry favor with the mexicans. The US Constitution, rule of law, and American sovereignty are being thrown out the window so democrats and republicans can build a short term voting bloc out of a group that will in the long run want nothing to do with Norte-americano gringo politicians.

[CPOSharky]

I lived in the country about 10 miles miles from the border in Cochise County.

I did a lot of coyote hunting but never shot any.

[holyscroller]

"And I certainly wouldn't want illegals running around on my property at all hours of the day/night; and what about teenage girls living at these properties, or little children?"

I recall when my daughter and son-in-law lived just blocks from the border in San Ysidro (San Diego) about ten years ago, and they had illegals jumping all the fences in the neighborhood and running through the yards, stealing everything that wasn't nailed down. Also, you didn't dare leave your garage door open, or the garage would be empty when you came home (and the house too, if the inside garage door wasn't locked). The illegals poured through the neighborhood 24/7. It was a nightmare. I can only imagine what it must be like now.

[exnavy]

The standard on that border should be, "Shoot first, a warning shot is not needed, question later".

[gubamyster]

See this cost estimate by the Center for Immigration Studies:

Tired and Poor: The Bankrupt Arguments for Mass, Unskilled Immigration

by Steven A. Camarota

National Review, September 3, 2001

We at the Center for Immigration Studies estimate that the average Mexican immigrant will use $55,200 more in public services during his lifetime than he pays in taxes.

[satan]


I come for visit, get treated regal,

So I stay, who care I illegal?

I cross ocean, poor and broke,

Take bus, see employment folk.

Nice man treat me good in there,

Say I need to see welfare.

Welfare say, "You come no more,

We send cash right to your door."

Welfare checks, they make you wealthy,

Medicaid, it keep you healthy!

By and by, I got plenty money,

Thanks to you, American dummy.

Write to friends in motherland,

Tell them come as fast as you can.

They come in turbans and Ford trucks,

I buy big house with welfare bucks.

They come here, we live together,

More welfare checks, it gets better!

Fourteen families they moving in,

But neighbor's patience wearing thin.

Finally, white guy moves away,

Now I buy his house, and then I say,

"Find more aliens for house to rent."

And in the yard I put a tent.

Send for family (they just trash),

But they, too, draw the welfare cash!

Everything is very good,

And soon we own the neighborhood.

We have hobby--it's called breeding,

Welfare pay for baby feeding.

Kids need dentist?

Wife need pills?

We get free!

We got no bills!

American crazy!

He pay all year,

To keep welfare running here.

We think America darn good place!

Too darn good for the white man race.

If they no like us, they can scram,

Got lots of room in Pakistan.

[c-b 1]

the leaders of both states and a powerful cross-border lobbying group called Friday for investigations to see if any of the patrols are breaking the law.

EXCUSE ME!

Everyone admits that the illegal entrants are breaking the law, but the citizens who are upholding the Constitution, when their Government refuses to, are going to be investigated.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

[Nitro]

Bump to the HUNT!!!

[willyone]

The American govt. which has sold us out will do the prosecuting. Look for these people to lose everything they have and end up in prison or maybe dead. Lots of money in immigration and these guys are in the way. That will not be tolerated any more than abortion protestors are. It is all about money and power. The law and what is right don't mean squat.

[willyone]

Yes indeed. They will erase it. Count on it.

[willyone]

I guarantee that the approach that will be taken to destroy these ranchers will be a RICO action by the federal govt. The illegals will end up owning these ranches. The move to a one nation world is underway and you better not get in the way.

[willyone]

The new border fence took care of the problem. Not only that but the miles of graffiti along 805 are now gone. Now East county is being invaded.

[let freedom sing]

Tancredo-Time bump

[nicmarlo]

It was a nightmare

That sounds like living next door to a jail with the prison doors wide open, for the criminals to come and go at will. THIS IS WRONG! Good American citizens shouldn't have to live like this, fearing for their property, family, lives.

[DLfromthedesert]

If they admit to this, hos an they possibly rationalize the new Homeland Security Department and the new Info Bureau?

[JustAnAmerican]

Thanks for the Info. I will be sure to pass it on through every avenue available to me.

[Oberon]

So US taxpayers build beacons and food-dumps to help them!

That's why the vigilante groups being scrutinized... it's illegal in Arizona to hunt over bait.