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Minuteman Civil Defense Corps Opening St. Louis Chapter
created: 8/30/2006 8:28:01 PM
updated: 8/31/2006 2:06:32 PM

By Cordell Whitlock

(KSDK) - They voluntarily patrol the U.S. border to keep out illegal immigrants. Now, an organization whose slogan is "National Citizens Neighborhood Watch - Securing the American Border" is coming to St. Louis.

The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps has gained fame as the group that voluntarily patrols the U.S. border and alerts authorities about illegal crossings. The corps has an estimated 5,000 members in Missouri with chapters in Springfield, Joplin and Kansas City.

Organizers plan to form an official chapter in St. Louis with a focus on statewide immigration issues. Randall Cox runs the Kansas City chapter and will lead efforts to organize in St. Louis.

Cox says the minutemen are not gun toting racists, but rather an organization concerned about a growing number of residents who are not American citizens. Cox says immigrants without proper documentation are placing an unfair burden on others.

"In the past several weeks I can't begin to tell you the amount of phone calls I've received from people who have actually lost their jobs as a result of illegal immigrants in Missouri," says Cox.

Edgar Ramirez is a pastoral associate at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in St. Louis where 70 percent of the congregation is undocumented. Ramirez acknowledges the problems with illegal immigration but says the minutemen spread the wrong message.

"They are basing their whole project in fear of people coming to this country. They are not respecting human dignity by calling them illegal or by promoting laws like Valley Park," says Ramirez.

A new law recently enacted in Valley Park penalizes anyone who knowingly employs or rents or leases a home to undocumented workers.

Cox applauds the law and is hoping a base in St. Louis will help the minutemen's efforts in lobbying for immigration reform.

Ramirez says undocumented workers take jobs no one else wants and he would like to see reforms that make it easier to gain U.S. citizenship.

Cox plans on holding a meeting in St. Louis sometime next month.