2 Border Vigilantes go to jail in capture

Arizona Republic ^ | 8 October 2003 | Daniel Gonzalez

[45Auto]

Two men received jail sentences Wednesday for illegally hunting down undocumented immigrants along the southern Arizona border with Mexico.

Human rights advocates, prosecutors and Mexican officials hailed the sentencing as a blow against border vigilantes, but the leader of a citizens border patrol group said the case has galvanized a group of people in the Yuma area to take up arms and patrol the border themselves.

[45Auto]

Its a bass-ackwards world.

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[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Those who aid and abet Criminals are as bad
as the criminals.

[Sabertooth]

When our politicians and law enforcement agencies are dedicated to lawlessness on the border, vigilantism will follow.

These guys were just trying to enforce the laws that President Bush won't.

[IronJack]

Human rights groups and Mexican officials have asked U.S. authorities to investigate the border militias ...

But not the passage of illegal aliens across our borders in direct violation of our laws ...

[agitator]

The conducted a citizens arrest upon witnessing a felony crime. Apparently in America, all men are created equal except some men are more equal than others. The more equal ones wear badges.

[weegee]

Even when the guards/vigilantes are on private property with the permission of the property owner (who has already had to endure theft) there have been prosecutions against the guards.

Does this mean that they should shoot to kill instead of detaining them? After all, the law permits you to shoot thieves on your property in Texas. I find that detaining people and letting them live is much preferable but it would seem that the law frowns on this.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

"Tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens are also guarding their own borders"

President Addresses Top Priorities: Economic & National Security [in NH today]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/998331/posts

[Pro-Bush]

Simcox said over the past year his group has turned over more than 2,000 undocumented immigrants to the Border Patrol.

At least some good news from this article. I guess they went overboard when they hand-cuffed them. They were just doing what the President said to do... that is watch out and report suspicious activity.

[Klickitat]

I'd be interested to find out what happens if one of these militias stumble across drug smugglers and get in a shoot out. Wouldn't suprise me if the govt came down harder on the good guys than the illegal drug smuggling criminals.

[Klickitat]

ping

[StarFan]

Ping.

Today on radio was a report that the illegals picked up and held in Laredo were going to be put back on the streets for LACK of governmental funding to hold them for deportation. So they're now the wards of Laredo taxpayers. Bizarro world!

[BeerSwillr]

ordered to perform 360 hours of community service

It seems to me they were performing a community service before, so do you think that goober judge will allow them to perform 360 hours of border patrol as "commnunity service?"

[Poohbah]

The conducted a citizens arrest upon witnessing a felony crime.

Actually, they didn't witness it, and it wasn't a felony.

In Arizona, you may execute a citizen's arrest on either:

1. REASONABLE BELIEF that a specific felony was committed by the arrestee; or

2. ACTUALLY SEEING the commission of a misdemeanor.

Illegally crossing the border is not a felony in and of itself--it is a misdemeanor.

These guys didn't see these two cross the border.

Bottom line: if you intend to arrest, you need to know what you're doing.

[gubamyster]

ping

[Pro-Bush]

I am well aware of that. See my tagline or read some of my previous posts on Immigration.

Despite my handle, I don't get called a bushbot anymore

[SAMWolf]

When the governemnet encourages illegal aliens how dare the citizens try and stop it on their own!! < /sarcasm>

[Regulator]

Illegally crossing the border is not a felony in and of itself--it is a misdemeanor.

Only the first time and you know it. Second time - and all further entries that someone is arrested and convicted for - are felonies.