Thread: Minuteman volunteers expected this weekend

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Minuteman volunteers expected this weekend
By Wilson Ring, Associated Press Writer | October 12, 2005

MONTPELIER, Vt. --A citizens group that has helped watch the U.S.-Mexico border for illegal border crossers is expected to be in the Newport area this weekend, law enforcement officials said.

But protesters could outnumber the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps volunteers.

"Our department has been in contact with both entities," said Vermont State Police Lt. Tom Hanlon, the commander of the Derby barracks. "Both plan on assembling peacefully to get their message out. Neither wants civil disobedience. We don't expect any problems."

Between six and 10 Minuteman volunteers are expected to be along the border in the Newport, Jay and Troy areas, said Border Patrol Assistant Chief Patrol Officer John Pfeifer.

The counter protest is being planned for the Derby Line green at noon on Saturday.

"We want to show that we oppose them and show that Vermonters don't want their agenda in the state of Vermont, or anywhere for that matter," said protest organizer Leah Siegel of Burlington.

"Once we find out where the Minuteman will be, we want to come face-to-face with them, and confront them, nonviolently of course, and let them know we want nothing to do with their racist agenda," Siegel said.

Siegel said she hoped the protest would attract between 50 and 100 people.

The Minuteman organization does not believe the federal government is doing enough to stem illegal border crossing. On the U.S.-Mexican border in Arizona, Minuteman volunteers have set themselves up in strategic areas and reported illegal activity to the Border Patrol.

The organization claims to have helped apprehend hundreds of illegal border crossers on the southern border.

The Border Patrol along Vermont's border with Quebec routinely captures illegal border crossers, but not in the numbers seen on the Mexican border.

Earlier this year the Minuteman announced a monthlong effort along the U.S.-Canadian border beginning Oct. 1. Almost two weeks ago about 20 Minuteman volunteers began watching the border in the state of Washington.

Pfeifer said agents have been on the alert for the Minuteman volunteers, but none have been spotted since Oct. 1.

Border Patrol agents won't be changing their routine as a result of this weekend's expected activities of the Minuteman volunteers.

"I don't think this is going to be a big deal," Pfeifer said.

Pfeifer said the layout of the northern border was different from the Mexican border. Most of the land is forested and is privately owned.

"The chance of them just sitting in one place and observing an illegal entry are pretty remote," Pfeifer said.

"We don't condone what they are doing," Pfeifer said of the Minuteman volunteers. "When they are out there like any other citizen and they call in illegal activity we will respond to it."

Minuteman organizers did not return repeated calls for comment on Wednesday.

Last month Minuteman co-founder Chris Simcox said the group had about 250 volunteers ready to work in the Northeast, but none were from the border area. He also said some in the border area were hostile to their presence.

Pfeifer said he met some others who visited the Border Patrol headquarters in Swanton, but none recently.

Several months ago Border Patrol agents did spot a group of Minuteman volunteers in the Beecher Falls area of Vermont, near the border with New Hampshire, but they were not looking for illegal border crossers, Pfeifer said.

"They were just up there looking around," he said.

I am so sick and tired of the minutemen being called racists! In my opinion, these pro-illegal alien groups are Anti-American. I am a minuteman. I just got back from New Mexico where I volunteered with the group during the first week of October. I wish I could have stayed the whole month, but personal circumstances would not allow me to be away that long. Contrary to what the media likes to portray, these men and women are not vigilante, KKK members. I was there. I know. It was an honor to meet and work with each and every one of them. The time and effort they have contributed is immeasurable. I am grateful and thankful for them. I am from MA so am going to try to head to VT, if they continue to have patrols throughout the month. I hope others will do the same.

The pro-illegals are merely anarchists who aid and abet illegal immigration. They don't have any argument that will hold water...I mean...we're talking federal law here so where is the room for arugment??....Calling the MMP 'rascist' is as close to an argument as they can get...and like anything else they might say in their defense, it's FALSE. Calling them an anarchist would be 'true and correct'.

RR