Thread: Congressman proposes volunteer border corps; La Raza gripes

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/a ... f0045.html

McCaul proposes volunteer border corps
But critics said the measure would give government approval to the activities of vigilantes.

By Scott Shepard

WASHINGTON BUREAU

Friday, October 21, 2005

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, introduced legislation Thursday that would allow controversial volunteer groups such as the Minuteman Project to patrol the nation's borders under the supervision of the Department of Homeland Security.

"This will harness and channel the energy and the spirit of volunteerism in a productive and positive way," McCaul said after unveiling the legislation.

But critics said the measure, similar to one introduced in July by U.S. Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, would give government approval to the activities of groups like the Minuteman Project, whose members were once described by President Bush as vigilantes.

"This bill would result in state-sanctioned vigilante groups," said Michele Waslin, spokesperson for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic civil rights organization.

McCaul's bill would create a "Border Corps" of volunteers, trained and equipped by the federal government to assist the U.S. Border Patrol in fortifying U.S. borders.

The congressman said it would be up to Homeland Security Department officials whether Border Corps volunteers would be armed. He said the Border Corps volunteers would act as "the eyes and ears" of U.S. Border Patrol officers.

McCaul said he had not assessed how much money his proposed Border Corps would cost the taxpayers.

When asked about the possible danger of volunteers patrolling U.S. borders, McCaul said, "I would submit that the current situation is dangerous in that you have volunteers down there who are completely unsupervised and without adequate training."

Waslin acknowledged the problem of illegal immigration but noted that increasing the resources devoted to patrolling borders has had little effect thus far.

"This just isn't going to work," she said of the proposed Border Corps.

The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on McCaul's bill.

sshepard@coxnews.com

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I don't like the idea of DHS being in charge of the Minutemen, but not for the same reasons as The Race.

While I wholeheartedly agree our borders need to be secured, IT IS NOT A JOB FOR VOLUNTEERS! THIS IS A JOB FOR THE MILITARY!

The Minuteman have drawn national attention to the open borders. This needed to be done in order to get the attention of Bush & Congress. OK, DC's paying attention now, let the military take over. Maybe they'd be able to do more than "observe".