[dirtboy]

Wait, people don't have the right to stop trespassing on their own private property if it's illegals?

I believe the typical law regarding trespass is that you demand that they leave, and if they refuse, you call the cops. It's a misdemeanor offense, typically, whereas citizens arrest in Texas requires that you witness a felony in progress - and illegal entry is not automatically a felony.

(Or drug traffickers...or hey, illegals trafficking drugs)

Actually, that would be a felony in progress and actionable as citizens arrest - assuming that someone would want to take on a drug smuggler who is probably armed.

Hey, I'm with you - folks should be able to arrest someone in trespass. But the law aint' written that way, and these groups have too many political opponents just waiting for them to screw up to be dabbling with confronting illegals and patting them down. Best to observer, track, notify the Border Patrol and make good, solid publicity for the cause at hand.

[Ajnin]

After arresting and helping to arrest thousands of illegal aliens I have never seen any illegal alien prosecuted under 8 USC 1325 after entering the country just one time. A year or two ago we started a program in which we started prosecuting people that over 30 entries. The number has declined to about 15 entries for prosecution. The people that are being prosecuted are generally the guides or coyotes. Interstingly enough, deportees are not prosecuted unless they meet certain stringent guidelines. Deportees can commit any number of crimes, from domestic violence to carjacking without being prosecuted for re-entry after deportation. It really is difficult to prosecute.