Thread: Minutemen: Volunteer calls pouring in over fencing proposal

http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=4807265&nav=14RT

Border Fence Proposed by Minuteman Group
April 23, 2006 09:18 PM PDT


By Teresa Jun, KOLD News 13

Immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally may soon have a new barrier to contend with. The Minuteman Civil Defense Corp. is proposing to privately build a 70-mile long fence along the southern edge of Arizona.

"We're giving President Bush an ultimatum until the 25th of May, to secure our border," said Carmen Mercer, vice president of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corp. "We've waited long enough for the president to secure our borders, and he hasn't done it, so we have to take another action."

Minuteman leaders say at least six private land owners along the border have given permission for the fence to be built on their property. And the Minutemen say phone calls of support and donations are already pouring in.

"We have truckers," Mercer said. "We have construction workers, we have fence companies who have already offered their services free of charge, who want to get involved in this project."

According to the Minuteman website, this fence could include barriers of coiled barbed wire, a six-foot trench to foil vehicles, and two rows of 12-foot high rugged wire fencing. Proponents say the fence would stop, or at least slow down, border-crossers, and give authorities enough time to intercept them.

"It will be a strong fence," Mercer added. "People won't be able to break through our fence as quickly as they can break through our fence that we have on the border now, which has holes that are big enough to take a whole vehicle through there."

But critics think it's a bad idea. "Walls do nothing more than exacerbate the problem," said Jennifer Allen, executive director of immigrant rights group, Border Action Network. "Walls won't stop them (from crossing the border.) They will just push their migration routes to more isolated areas. The Minutemen are distracting policy-makers from the real solution, which is comprehensive immigration reform."

If this fence is built, it would span less than one-fifth of the Arizona-Mexico border. But Minuteman volunteers say they are so confident this fence will be effective along its 70 miles, that the government will see that and finish the fence across the entire U.S.-Mexico border.

The Minuteman group plans to start construction on the fence this Memorial Day weekend.

Neil Brian Goldberg is a patriotic singer/songwriter whose roots go back to the 1960s. He felt compelled to offer his services to the Minutemen after seeing the massive illegal immigrant rallies. Suddenly, he understood the importance of their work. He was with them recently in Phoenix, Arizona, performing wonderful songs of inspiration such as his original composition "Freedom Bird." He intends to accompany the Minutemen on tour to as many stops as he can and would appreciate donations to help him fund the trip. Send them to Neil Brian Goldberg, PO Box 2313, Aptos CA 95001. You can also contact Neil at computrjones@saber.net for more information.