Thread: 900 border watchers now expected

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php? ... _minutemen

Nearly twice as many people as originally planned are expected to converge on Cochise County next month for a volunteer border patrol, organizers of the upcoming Minuteman Project said yesterday.
Almost 900 volunteers have signed up for the program so far, said project organizer Jim Gilchrist, a retired California accountant and a Vietnam veteran. The project had initially hoped to recruit 500.

"I'm elated to see that so many people are willing to come out," Gilchrist said.

Minuteman Project volunteers plan to conduct round-the-clock patrols in the San Pedro Valley, a popular smuggling corridor, during April, when the tide of immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border peaks.

Organizers say they plan to call the U.S. Border Patrol if they find illegal immigrants.

Douglas Mayor Ray Borane doubts the group's volunteer estimates.

Actual turnout for similar events "always turns out to be much lower than their predictions," he said.

But Borane is concerned about the types of people the project will attract, especially openly racist groups that have shown interest in the project.

"How are they going to screen these people?" he asked. "They won't know who they are, and they won't be able to control them."

The Border Patrol has voiced concern as well.

"It's not safe for agents, residents or their own safety," said Tucson sector Border Patrol Chief Mike Nicley. "Border Patrol does not condone this kind of activity and does not need this kind of help."

Organizers had capped enrollment at 700 earlier in the week for fear of overwhelming Tombstone, the small town and tourist attraction that will serve as a base for many of the volunteers.

"But then we thought it would be great for Tombstone," Gilchrist said. "Businesses will love it."

Tombstone Councilman Bill Barlow views each volunteer as a potential tourist helping to fill the town's 150 hotel rooms.

"We welcome them," he said. "We don't anticipate any problems."

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php? ... _minutemen

Nearly twice as many people as originally planned are expected to converge on Cochise County next month for a volunteer border patrol, organizers of the upcoming Minuteman Project said yesterday.
Almost 900 volunteers have signed up for the program so far, said project organizer Jim Gilchrist, a retired California accountant and a Vietnam veteran. The project had initially hoped to recruit 500.

"I'm elated to see that so many people are willing to come out," Gilchrist said.

Minuteman Project volunteers plan to conduct round-the-clock patrols in the San Pedro Valley, a popular smuggling corridor, during April, when the tide of immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border peaks.

Organizers say they plan to call the U.S. Border Patrol if they find illegal immigrants.

Douglas Mayor Ray Borane doubts the group's volunteer estimates.

Actual turnout for similar events "always turns out to be much lower than their predictions," he said.

But Borane is concerned about the types of people the project will attract, especially openly racist groups that have shown interest in the project.

"How are they going to screen these people?" he asked. "They won't know who they are, and they won't be able to control them."

The Border Patrol has voiced concern as well.

"It's not safe for agents, residents or their own safety," said Tucson sector Border Patrol Chief Mike Nicley. "Border Patrol does not condone this kind of activity and does not need this kind of help."

Organizers had capped enrollment at 700 earlier in the week for fear of overwhelming Tombstone, the small town and tourist attraction that will serve as a base for many of the volunteers.

"But then we thought it would be great for Tombstone," Gilchrist said. "Businesses will love it."

Tombstone Councilman Bill Barlow views each volunteer as a potential tourist helping to fill the town's 150 hotel rooms.

"We welcome them," he said. "We don't anticipate any problems."

if the government CHOSES to do nothing, what else is there to do.....AMERICA, STAND UP AND GET INVOLVED!!!!!!!!!!

if the government CHOSES to do nothing, what else is there to do.....AMERICA, STAND UP AND GET INVOLVED!!!!!!!!!!

The MinuteMan Project currently has 863 volunteers from the following 50 states:

The MinuteMan Project currently has 863 volunteers from the following 50 states: