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Border watchdog organization forming ‘Hawkeyes'
Imperial Valley Press Online ^ | 08/30/2002 | AARON CLAVERIE

Posted on 08/31/2002 2:20:36 PM PDT by Marine Inspector

SHERMAN OAKS — Glen Spencer of the American Patrol here envisions a day when his border watchdog organization staffs satellite offices all along the U.S.-Mexico border to coordinate and support the activities of "Hawkeyes."

The soon-to-be-formed group of private citizens will be made up of people who want to report illegal immigrants to the U.S. Border Patrol and document their findings in an online database, according to Spencer, a retired computer consultant from Sherman Oaks and the founder of the American Patrol.

The American Patrol plans to start accepting applications from people who want to be his "Hawkeyes" Sept. 1.

Imperial Valley residents who are part of American Patrol's database will be privately notified of the procedure for signing up. Those who do will be screened in order to "qualify sources of information," Spencer said.

After the "quiet rollout" for existing members of his database, the masses will be allowed to log onto an as-yet-unveiled Web site and fill out an online application form, he said.

Spencer was asked to estimate the number of Imperial Valley-ites already in his database. Talking on a cell phone while driving, he said he couldn't provide an exact total because he didn't have his computer in front of him. He did say Imperial County has its share.

Asked if he plans to open an Imperial County office anytime soon to recruit even more, he said, "Not yet ... one of these days."

Spencer's group has two bases, his office in Sherman Oaks and an office in Sierra Vista, Ariz., a small border town south of Tuscon with an airfield that's ideal for the patrol's "air force," Sherman said.

The airfield allows patrol members to fly west along the border to San Diego and over Imperial County while looking for illegal immigrants or east toward El Paso and Brownsville, Texas. Pretty soon the patrol's flotilla might include a helicopter.

"One guy said he is selling his yacht to buy one," Spencer said.

Once a Patrol member spots a suspected group of illegal immigrants he or she reports the information to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Once the online journals from "Hawkeyes" are up and running, the American Patrol will have illegal immigration data and a record of U.S. Border Patrol activity or inactivity.

Spencer was asked if the U.S. Border Patrol supports his plan when "Hawkeyes" might find and document negligence that could give the already embattled agency a black eye. He said some Border Patrol agents have privately supported his plan.

As for those agents who think he should leave the patrolling to them, Spencer stressed his group is not critical of agents but is of supervisors and administration.

The U.S. Border Patrol has not released an official statement on Spencer or his group.

With his expected reams of data and anecdotal journal entries, Spencer hopes to improve the efficiency of the U.S. Border Patrol, helping the agency allocate its resources better.

Spencer thinks the agency needs help because its aim of securing the border is growing more important every day.

According to Spencer, the border dividing the U.S. and Mexico could soon become a battleground in a reprise of 1848's Mexican-American war as Mexicans attempt to physically take back the land the U.S. took control of following Mexico's defeat at the hands of U.S. forces and the hastily brokered Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo more than a century ago.

To stave off the possibility of such a conflict, Spencer advocates a practically impenetrable border and an end to services for illegal immigrants already here. Some have called Spencer's organization a "hate group," intent on provoking conflict.

Spencer said his group has been deliberately smeared as a militant group of vigilantes by a number of immigrant rights groups.

Those are accusations, "which, of course, are not true," he said, although Spencer declined to be interviewed by a reporter this week from a Spanish-language newspaper. Asked if his "Hawkeyes" would get baseball caps or badges they could put on their coats if they signed up, Spencer said the American Patrol will issue identification cards but no caps or badges.

>> Staff Writer Aaron Claverie can be reached at 337-3419 or aclaverie@aol.com


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: Arizona; US: California
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To: Marine Inspector
Although I've been participated in immigration demonstrations before, I had since given up after watching the then ignored efforts of people like Spencer and Barbara Coe. I didn't know these two organizations had formed:

American Border Patrol
Ranch Rescue

These guys are actually out in the bush risking their lives. I'm joining both orgs poste haste.

41 posted on 10/13/2002 11:44:43 AM PDT by A Navy Vet
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To: RnMomof7
SELF HELP is the ONLY thing that will save our nation. The office holders are pursuing their highest virtues: eating, drinking, copulating, evacuating and snoring; all at taxpayer expense.
42 posted on 10/13/2002 11:50:15 AM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: A Navy Vet
These guys are actually out in the bush risking their lives. I'm joining both orgs poste haste.

I support both groups, but due to my job, I can only send donations.

43 posted on 10/13/2002 12:22:48 PM PDT by Marine Inspector
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To: Marine Inspector
Aren't there already ways we should be able to report some of this kind of thing? I would hate to see certain things happen in regards to this problem, I'd hate to see federal agents given the right to come onto my property and search for illegals who aren't there or have neighbors reporting on each other and giving the right then for innocent people to be investigated.
44 posted on 10/13/2002 12:36:57 PM PDT by FITZ
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
SELF HELP is the ONLY thing that will save our nation.

Self help can get out of hand though. I hope something else is done first so people don't start going in on their own.

I think the government should do certain things the attract the worst illegals, welfare programs should be completely off limits to all immigrants including all legal immigrants as well as illegal. The pandering politicians know they're making things worse everytime they mention amnesty, I feel sorry for the agents out there who risk their lives when the politicians are working completely counter to what they're trying to do.

The agents out there need to be supported in their efforts much more by our government officials.

45 posted on 10/13/2002 12:40:49 PM PDT by FITZ
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
SELF HELP is the ONLY thing that will save our nation. The office holders are pursuing their highest virtues: eating, drinking, copulating, evacuating and snoring; all at taxpayer expense.

It is worse than that they are selling American and getting fat on the transaction

46 posted on 10/13/2002 1:17:31 PM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: FITZ
Yep Self help got out of hand in April 1861. However, it looks like that is what will have to happen, either that or die or worse.
47 posted on 10/13/2002 5:44:56 PM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
Unfortunately it may come to that. I'd hate to see that though. For one amateurs on the border could end up shooting at people who are otherwise harmless people just coming out of desperation. I'd rather see other things ----like our government demanding that government make some overdo changes.
48 posted on 10/13/2002 5:51:02 PM PDT by FITZ
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To: FITZ
I do not think there is any MAY about it. The question is when? There is a third world infiltration and these little gems hate us. We seem to be paralyzed by words uttered by outcasts.
49 posted on 10/13/2002 6:44:22 PM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
Also Americans will be shot at from the Mexico side just like they're doing to the border patrol agents. I'd hate to see it.
50 posted on 10/13/2002 6:48:16 PM PDT by FITZ
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To: FITZ
It will happen. The FBI agents recently shot were dealing with a problem that I first read about circa 1995 e.g. Mexicans robbing American trains. There was an article in the late 90's about the systematic looting of California's San Joaquin valley. Trucks, cars, tractors, household goods stolen and taken down to Mexico. In essence the looting, pillage etc. is already starting.
51 posted on 10/13/2002 6:55:12 PM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: Marine Inspector
Wonderful idea. :)
52 posted on 10/13/2002 6:58:56 PM PDT by Letitring
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To: 4Freedom
Oh bull. This would NOT be possible under a democrat president.
53 posted on 10/13/2002 7:02:30 PM PDT by Letitring
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To: 4Freedom
Prove your numbers on the immigration issue, please.
54 posted on 10/13/2002 7:08:20 PM PDT by Letitring
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
You're right it will happen if the government continues to ignore the problem and doesn't find real solutions. I feel sorry for agents getting shot at while the pandering politicians keep saying they're going to give amnesty --and they know saying amnesty just gets a thousand more running over the border to get in on it. I live on the border and I know what mess there is on the other side and no one here wants it over here. We've had quite a few people killed in carjackings because some Mexican wants their car. Almost everyone I know has had at least one car stolen and everyone knows the Mexican government officials and their kids are driving them.
55 posted on 10/13/2002 7:10:55 PM PDT by FITZ
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
The only thing though is we also see some pretty innocent types coming over just to work --exactly because their country is such a mess and they just want to feed their kids or survive. Some just want to be maids or gardeners and get a few bucks to try to live, they don't mean to hurt anyone.
56 posted on 10/13/2002 7:12:44 PM PDT by FITZ
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To: FITZ
One cannot rely on the office holders. Well I have to go good luck and God Bless.
57 posted on 10/13/2002 7:15:31 PM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: 4Freedom
FYI:


Reduce immigration backlog while maintaining quality

Since 1993, the US has welcomed nearly 4.4 million new American citizens. Faced with this
unprecedented number of applications, the Administration undertook an initiative that has significantly
reduced the backlog of citizenship applications and is restoring timely processing while at the same time
maintaining the integrity of the process. The INS is on track to meet its goal of reducing this backlog by
completing 1.3 million applications this year while maintaining the highest levels of quality.
Source: WhiteHouse.gov web site Jul 2, 2000 Immigration



58 posted on 10/13/2002 7:21:00 PM PDT by Letitring
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To: FITZ; All
Oh is that true?They all just want a better life?

How are they getting those jobs?Are they being paid legal wages? What kind of selfish,greedy,racist, law-breaking POS US citizen/employer hires them? Are these employers just "helping" someone out, for kindness sake?I seriously doubt that, and no thoughtfull person would agree that encouraging criminality helps this society. Think about that aspect for a few minutes.

The creation and maintenance of an underground class of third-rate citizenry in the USA is fertile ground for increasing crime and poverty rates.Why not just legalise slavery? It is the same system anyway.Preying on the misery of another human being to benefit yourself.

Get the illegals out and toss their "employers" in jail.These laws exist.Enforce them.

59 posted on 10/13/2002 7:44:26 PM PDT by sarasmom
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To: sarasmom
It's become complicated though ---some employers like farmers who might have wanted to pay someone minimum wage and offer insurance benefits wouldn't possibly be able to compete with law breakers who avoid the minimum wage and pay no benefits ---they they too have to break the law if they want to compete. They aren't all wicked, it's just the way things have become.

There should be many changes, cleaning out the SS number databases, fining employers of illegals, ending all welfare benefits and free health care etc besides just shooting people trying to make their way over. Most important would be demanding the Mexican government reform itself ASAP.

60 posted on 10/13/2002 7:57:31 PM PDT by FITZ
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