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]

Pox on the tripe who dare to interfere with citizens trying to do the job the government won't

[Tancredo Fan]

An outraged PING!

[Bob J]

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[joesnuffy]

why dont they sue the border patrol for not letting them in ...
oh thats right they dont have to sue them for that....
Of course if they go shopping for the right judge...they may have a case

[rageaholic]

What's next? Demanding to remove the security guards at convience stores, because its impeding on their "right" to shoplift?

[King Prout]

I suppose these "civil rights"/"immigrants' rights" agitators don't really care how this sort of litigation can and almost certainly will produce a fatal shift in citizen-militia border patrol policy.

The dead, after all, do not sue.

I am sure the mitias in question would prefer to avoid this.
I would lke to think the illegals themselves would like to avoid this.
However, it looks like the advocacy groups couldn't care less.

[King Prout]

*sigh*
mitias ==> MILITIAS

[Hacksaw]

Why is this group referred to as "immigrants rights" when they are advocates for illegal immigrants?

[King Prout]

how's your blood pressure PING!

[King Prout]

that IS the question, isn't it?
One of many, at least.

[Tancredo Fan]

Why is this group referred to as "immigrants rights" when they are advocates for illegal immigrants?

These left wing crackpots are getting desperate. They know California is about to come apart at the seams now that Prop. 187 is in the news again, and it doesn't bode well for them, the invading hordes, or the useless federal government that has refused to do the job of securing the borders. These people at BAN are despicable..... but what should folks expect from the Ford Foundation and from barnacles like Morris 'Sleaze' Dees?

[lizma]

Constitutionally what "rights" do illegal immigrants have?

I know the rats would say the same as ours. But is there a judicial precedence that defines their "rights"?

[BiffWondercat]

I think that there are no longer "illegal immigrants" but "undocumented workers". They now seem to have the magical ability to make problems go away by changing the words around.

I tried to move to Mexico, but they caught me the first time and told me in no uncertain terms that I would face years of imprisonment if I tried it again. We need to study their border/law enforcement techniques since so few Americans seem to be willing to sneak into Mexico, except the criminals who have little to lose....

[King Prout]

I do not have the constitution on me here, but there is an amendment (14th?) the wording of which is the source of all evil. "...shall deprive no person..." instead of "citizen"

[philetus]

Border Action Network


BAN@borderaction.org

PO Box 384 Tucson, Arizona 85702
520-623-4944 FAX: 520-792-2097

[MarkL]

Cool!!!! As soon as someone comes forward as "a victim," slap cuff on them, and send them south of the border!

Mark

[oldtimer]

NO kidding. Libs looking for more votes for rats.

Kalifornistan is gone (only a million illegals in LA), and now the rats are looking to take over Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Voting places?

[1ofmanyfree]

Pox on the tripe who dare to interfere with citizens
trying to do the job the government won't

I think it's high time we went after these groups who are openly assisting the illegal entry into the US. Aren't they guilty of aiding and abetting in the commission of a crime by putting food and water out expressly for border jumpers and maybe terrorists? Now we hear some group wants to provide busses to drive around known crossing areas to give the poor, tired, hot and thirsty illegals a free lift. I am all for drawing a line in the sand here and now. How do we FORCE the US attny general to prosecute these organized traitors under the Rico Act statutes since the openly admit to aiding and assisting in an organized group or groups with the express purpose of breaking federal law? Or is there no controlling legal authority in this case?

Seriously, isn’t there some way for our border patriots to force the law to go after these traitors? If there is a way... it may require FReep support. Certainly a worthy cause, IMHO!

1ofmanyFRee

[PRND21]

Pox on the tripe who dare to interfere with citizens trying to do the job the government won't

I'm not suprised to see your support of lawbreakers, hypocrite.

Which part of ILLEGAL don't you understand?

[PRND21]

These left wing crackpots are getting desperate.

So are the right wing ones.