Immigrant-rights group intensifies fight against civilian patrols on border

Associated Press via the Arizona Daily Star ^ | 8/12/03

[Tancredo Fan]

Updated 5:54 pm Aug 12, 2003

Immigrant-rights group intensifies fight against civilian patrols on border

The Associated Press

PHOENIX - An advocacy group wants to file a lawsuit on behalf of migrants who say they were victimized by armed civilian groups patrolling the border, and is seeking victims willing to serve as plaintiffs.

The Border Action Network claims the groups operate outside the law and violate the rights of immigrants. They hope to pressure authorities to intervene.

The self-appointed border patrol groups deny they are breaking the law, and said they pass along to authorities information that volunteers collect about illegal border-crossers.

Volunteers for the Border Action Network are stretching their search for alleged victims along the entire border and as far south as the Mexican state of Chiapas. The advocates began asking victims to come forward earlier this year through ads and radio spots in Sonora, Mexico.

Once alleged victims come forward, attorneys plan to sue the people or groups accused of assaulting, robbing, intimidating or illegally detaining border-crossers.

"The purpose of the suit is to get at their pocketbook," said Jesus Romo, a civil rights attorney in Tucson. "Our purpose is to bankrupt these individuals so that they stop their actions."

No lawsuits have been filed thus far.

Border Action Network plans to continue using radio spots and newspaper ads to find plaintiffs, particularly focusing in areas where migrants originate.

Finding plaintiffs for civil lawsuits also could make it easier for prosecutors and other officials to open investigations into the activities of civilian patrol groups, said Zoe Hammer-Tomizuka, a Border Action Network volunteer.

Glenn Spencer, president of American Border Patrol, an organization based in Sierra Vista that monitors illegal border-crossers, says his group operates lawfully and does not interfere with migrants.

Still, he said he's concerned about groups that plan to file lawsuits. "Things are getting a little hairy," he said. "They're heightening feelings on both sides of the border. They are trying to rabble-rouse."

Another group that has patrolled the Arizona-Mexico border was sued in Texas over two incidents of alleged abuse against detained migrants.

A lawsuit filed in May accuses Ranch Rescue and others of assaulting, falsely imprisoning and robbing six people during two incidents in March in rural south Texas.

The Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala., and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund in Los Angeles joined in filing the lawsuit. The Southern Poverty Law Center monitors the political movements of groups from white supremacist groups to eco-terrorists.

[Tancredo Fan]

See this thread. The knuckle-dragging pigs in Mexico City are up to their ears in this one.

[King Prout]

As to the garbage relocation, I will ask again: What is more important, legality or justice?
The obvious line of thinking is as follows: President Bush has for the past 2+ years done nothing to stem the tide of illegal invasion. The way the laws are constructed, there is no way to force the illegals to stop coming or at least tidy up after themselves. US citizens on the border are justifiably tired of this. (Note - already, we have a demonstrated divergence of law and justice). The illegals dump a great deal of refuse and biowaste in these citizens' back yards. The citizens are in essence forced to clean up the messes of other people who shouldn't even be here in the first place. Recognizing that President Bush is entirely too chummy with Vincente Fox, and that he has not only failed to do anything effective to seal the border but has even allowed others to interfere with citizens doing what is entirely their right and duty to do, these citizens are faced with the knowledge that this garbage actually is the rightful property of President Bush. His watch, his responsibility, his property.
They ought to take his property off of theirs and return it to its rightful owner, or at least charge his personal estate with a storage and processing fee. That's justice.
The Law, on the other hand, effectively states "put up with it, serf". That is not just.
Laws are supposed to be just.
Our ancestors fought a revolution on that principle, remember?

[Zavien Doombringer]

Where do you see any support of law breaking?

[King Prout]

Something you might want to think about:
To those folks who are neck-deep in a swarm of illegals, this situation does not seem to be describable as a "misdemeanor". This is an invasion, of the Goth/Hun/Vandal/Bulgar variety. Not military so much as by tribes and families of migrant looters and despoilers. To the citizens on the border in particular, it does not appear that the "illegals" are "petty criminals" - it looks a lot more like these *invaders* are *the enemy*.
Totally different frame of reference, don't you think?
One with which I am not happy, but with which I am not inclined to argue, as it is probably much more realistic than the politically convenient legalese characterization.

[King Prout]

one side note - that "insulting link" was from King Prout TO King Prout, not to PRND21.
Additionally, I never claimed I would never speak to him again. I stated that his response to a very simple question would determine whether I would ever again *pay attention* to him.
When you misrepresent the facts, especially those easily confirmed in public-record text, you damage the credibility of your position and your air of moral superiority.

[PRND21]

Good question. Why don't you answer it, troller?

I understand it perfectly. You and yours selectively choose which laws should be enforced, Windbag.

[PRND21]

Coward. Say your lies to my face.

[PRND21]

I'm a troll because FR BorderBots are hypocrits? Fine.

[PRND21]

Where do you see any support of law breaking?

Read.

[PRND21]

I stated that his response to a very simple question would determine whether I would ever again *pay attention* to him.

Do you really think people care?

[Zavien Doombringer]

I did, you seem to have been reading it backwards...

[PRND21]

Are ALL the anti-immigration folks here hypocrites? >br>I am "cheerleading" lawfulness on a immigration thread and the locals go berserk.

Agenda Justice?

[King Prout]

Cultural Jihad did care enough to ask.
Do I think *you* care? No. Despite the fact that you yourself cared enough to respond, I do not think you care.
Ask me if I care about that.

[wjcsux]

I'm a troll because FR BorderBots are hypocrits? Fine.
ZD, what do you say?

[PRND21]

Speak for yourself.

[Zavien Doombringer]

I think so...I replied to him with the Graphic, he replied back, then I mentioned that he must be reading the article backwards he then replied to me privately saying;

"Ah...I was speaking to someone that was on another thread advocating law breaking. My bad. "

If he doesn't know what he is talking about, or who he is talking to then he may be just an idiot, but if he is lying to me, then he is definitley a Troll

[lentulusgracchus]

Coward. Say your lies to my face.

That's a troll. You are an ontological troller, no doubt about it. Economy in posting, maximal name-calling.

[lentulusgracchus]

You and yours selectively choose which laws should be enforced, Windbag.

Asides from insulting me and calling me names, do you plan to bring anything to the table?

Now answer the question.

[lentulusgracchus]

I am "cheerleading" lawfulness on a immigration thread and the locals go berserk.

No, you aren't. You're cheerleading for people who give jobs to illegals. We've got 35,000,000 people in this country who don't belong here, and you profess dismay over a bunch of guys with binoculars.

Selective indignation with attitude -- hypocrisy deluxe.

Ever met anyone who'd work for 77 cents an hour that you didn't like?

[FITZ]

So do you really believe that the USA should have no borders whatsoever and as many people from any place on the world should be able to come here and take welfare or work? Any number of immigrants with no insurance, job skills or education ---- to do whatever they like? No restrictions at all in how many? If they want to camp out in your or my front yard that should be allowed also?