http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centreda ... 374731.htm

Posted on Sun, Aug. 27, 2006

Patrol group meets in Wise

By Matt Frazier
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

WISE COUNTY -- Expressing their anger, fear, frustration and resolve, about 70 supporters of the Texas Minutemen gathered at a remote airfield Saturday to pass the plate to pay for another airborne observation and reconnaissance campaign along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Organization leaders and guest speakers at the barbecue fundraiser about 15 miles west of Denton told those gathered in the small hangar that they were the United States' front line against one of its gravest threats ever: illegal immigration.

"We are living in a very dangerous time in America," said speaker Francisco Jorge, a naturalized citizen originally from Cuba. "There is a massive confrontation coming."

The group says it plans to use volunteers, an airplane and a small helicopter to observe anyone crossing the border illegally in the Laredo and Del Rio areas Sept. 11 through Nov. 7 and in the El Paso area Oct. 1-31.

Volunteers are not allowed to confront anyone but instead are told to report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol for further investigation. Minutemen go through a background check, unless they are peace officers or have concealed-handgun permits. All are warned against displaying racism, are encouraged to carry the American flag and are expected to bring their own supplies.

"I'll be the first one down there," said Carl Smith, co-founder and operations director for the Texas chapter. "And I'll need your support."

Texas Minutemen began taking citizens to the border last year, where they faced illegal immigrants, drug cartels and corrupt Mexican police, he said.

Away from the border, volunteers can expect to face charges of racism from civil rights groups and the media, speakers said.

They said that:

Many in the news media are distorting facts and quotes to push open the border, placing Minutemen and the nation in danger. Jim Gilchrist, founder of the original national Minuteman Project, refused to give the Star-Telegram an interview because of its previous coverage.

Corporations are profiting from illegal immigration at the expense of the working class.

The government, controlled by corporations, is not upholding its duty to protect its citizens. One speaker suggested that President Bush should be tried for treason because he has not done enough to seal the border to protect against illegal immigrants and possible terrorist attacks.

The Minutemen are being unfairly branded as racists by civil rights groups like the League of United Latin American Citizens, which Jorge described as an organized-crime syndicate.

His message resonated with those attending.

"I support these people," Lisa Jenkins of Dallas said. "This is about a lot of issues -- national security, insurance, education. The government isn't doing its job."

The event did not raise near the $30,000 to $50,000 needed to pay for the October mission, Texas Minutemen co-founder Shannon McGauley said.

"We didn't make enough. We will still have to pay for a lot of this out of our own pockets," McGauley said after the event.

Those attending the fundraiser in Wise County were asked to go into their own communities and raise money and awareness. McGauley said the movement of using citizens to help patrol the border and call attention to the lack of security "is growing."

www.txminutemen.org


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Matt Frazier, 817-390-7957 mfrazier@star-telegram.com