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Hope this doesn't turn out to be a "catch and release." There's too many eyes on this. Will be interesting to see if the media reports any followup on the "handling" of the 18 arrested. Hmmmm ... inquiring minds definitely want to know!

Monday, April 4, 2005
Authorities arrest 18 spotted by Minutemen
By BETH DeFALCO
The Associated Press

PHOENIX – Volunteers for an effort to patrol the Mexican border reported their first sighting of suspected illegal immigrants, resulting in 18 arrests, authorities said Sunday.

Participants in the Minuteman Project spotted the migrants Saturday near Naco as volunteers were surveying the border to familiarize themselves with the area. When agents arrived, they apprehended 18 people, Border Patrol spokesman Andy Adame said.

"You observe them, report them and get out of the way," said Mike McGarry, a spokesman for the project, which begins today and is to continue for a month. Jim Gilchrist of Aliso Viejo is the project's founder.

The volunteers reported another illegal immigrant after he wandered onto the campus of a Bible college near Palominas, where about 100 Minuteman participants were staying.

The man walked in and said he needed food and water. Volunteers helped him and notified federal agents, who picked him up, McGarry said.

The man was weary from traveling but did not need medical care, Adame said.

"It's not uncommon to have aliens that have had enough," Adame said. "They'll walk up to someone's house and ask them to call us."

Minuteman volunteers planned to start regular patrols today, fanning out across 23 miles of the San Pedro Valley to watch the border and report any illegal activity to federal agents.

McGarry said about 200 people would be in place for today's patrols, although human-rights activists and some authorities have questioned whether the project will attract as many volunteers as organizers expect.

Law-enforcement officials said the volunteers were keeping the peace, despite concerns they might become confrontational with immigrants.

"Everything seems to be going well," said Carol Capas, a spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff's Office.

The Arizona-Mexico border is considered the most vulnerable stretch of the 2,000- mile southern border. Of the 1.1 million illegal immigrants caught by the Border Patrol last year, 51 percent crossed into the country at the Arizona border.