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Border fence divides activists
By Jonathan Clark

Minuteman Civil Defense Corps leader Chris Simcox
gauges the progress of a range fence at a May 27
groundbreaking ceremony in Palominas.
(By Jonathan Clark-Herald/Review

Herald/Review

BISBEE — A campaign by the Minutemen to build border fences on private land is facing growing criticism from other anti-illegal-immigration groups, as well from some of its original membership.

The critics complain that the organization formally known as the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps has been raising large amounts of money for a costly Israeli-style barrier but has been building only inexpensive range fencing. And they direct their disapproval squarely at Minuteman founder and president, Chris Simcox.

For his part, Simcox calls the criticism unfounded and petty, and insists his group will soon begin to construct the two-layered, Gaza Strip-model fencing as promised.

Last month, the Sierra Vista-based anti-illegal-immigration group American Patrol posted a report on its Web site comparing the barbed-wire livestock fence the Minutemen built at John and Jack Ladd’s ranch in Palominas with the design for an Israeli-style security barrier that had been promised on the Minuteman Web site.

The report, titled “Border fence scam? Simcox fence project raises doubts,” urged readers to refrain from donating to the fence program until the Minutemen prove they can build a human-proof barrier.

The president of American Patrol, Glenn Spencer, said he was initially skeptical of the campaign due to his own experiences with Cochise County’s planning and zoning regulations. But he said he decided to speak out after he heard a Phoenix-area man had mortgaged his house to donate $120,000 for the fence.

Spencer said the Minutemen had told supporters their fence would cost $300,000 per mile and urged them to donate generously.

But he said the fencing they have built so far runs closer to $8,000 per mile.

“We have supported the Minutemen and Chris Simcox’s efforts for years,” Spencer said.

“However, in this instance, I felt they went too far in their zeal to gain support.”

Simcox rejected the idea the Minutemen had misrepresented their fence project. He said his group has always made it clear they planned to build a variety of barriers tailored to fit the needs of individual property owners. And he said the Ladds’ fence is still a work in progress, with vehicle barriers and concertina wire to be added at a later date.

Two Naco-area landowners signed up to participate in the next phase of fence-building are interested in a more elaborate barrier, Simcox said, and so the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps have been purchasing materials and consulting with engineers in preparation for a groundbreaking later this month.

“It will be built,” Simcox said of the double-layered, 14-foot security fence. “We’ve just got people jumping to conclusions and going absolutely overboard with conspiracy theories.”

One of the groups lending their voice to the criticism is the Texas Minutemen, an organization Simcox says has been bitter toward him since it was expelled by the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps in April 2005 for carrying rifles and using racist language. Last week, the Texas group posted a bulletin to its Web site supporting the American Patrol report and deriding a call by Simcox for $55 million in donations to build 70 additional miles of border fencing in Arizona.

But it is not just the group’s rivals who are skeptical of the fence plan. Even longtime supporter Richard Humphries of Courtland, one of the original Minutemen, sees some validity to Spencer’s concerns.

“I know that if I had donated $100,000 to build a fence to fight illegal immigration and then found out that my money had been spent to build a five-strand, barbed-wire fence to keep cattle out, I’d be a little unhappy,” he said.

Humphries was quick to add he does not believe that Simcox is trying to deceive his supporters. He sees the problem as one of overambition and a lack of understanding of the complexities of building a large-scale, anti-illegal-immigration barrier.

Spencer, however, is more cynical. He recalls a May 27 groundbreaking ceremony at the Ladds’ ranch where Simcox gathered with politicians, supporters and dozens of media representatives at a 150-foot stretch of poles meant as a demonstration model of the Israeli-style barrier.

“Standing in front of 14-foot poles while you’re advertising 14-foot fences on your Web site, and collecting money to build it while knowing full well you are not going to be able to, well, that’s deception,” Spencer said.

Simcox said such criticism amounts to little more than sour grapes. “(Spencer) has been competitive and envious of our success since the beginning,” he said. “I just don’t understand why he can’t keep his eye on the common goal, which is getting the government to do its job of enforcing the border.”

JONATHAN CLARK can be reached at 515-4693 or jonathan.clark@bisbeereview.net.

For his part, Simcox calls the criticism unfounded and petty

*snip*

Simcox said such criticism amounts to little more than sour grapes. “(Spencer) has been competitive and envious of our success since the beginning,” he said. “I just don’t understand why he can’t keep his eye on the common goal, which is getting the government to do its job of enforcing the border.”

Sounds about right.

Two Naco-area landowners signed up to participate in the next phase of fence-building are interested in a more elaborate barrier, Simcox said, and so the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps have been purchasing materials and consulting with engineers in preparation for a groundbreaking later this month.

When was the article published? Is groundbreaking supposed to be later in July, or should it have already occurred?