Thread: MMP Phase II, Target Employers

http://www.dailybulletin.com/Stories/0, ... 45,00.html

Article Published: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 - 12:40

Phase 2 of Minuteman Project

Minutemen shift focus to target employers

By Sara A. Carter, Staff Writer

A citizens’ group patrolling a 23-mile stretch of the Arizona-Mexico border to keep out illegal immigrants announced Monday that it will shift its focus to employers who hire such immigrants.
Jim Gilchrist, co-founder of the Minuteman Project, announced the expansion of the project’s mission at the Minuteman headquarters in Tombstone. He said that as a result of the group’s success on the border since its project began April 1, its focus now will turn to employers who hire illegal immigrants and to cities with day-labor centers.

Gilchrist and co-founder Chris Simcox also plan to take their concerns to the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus in Washington, D.C., next week, on the same day a large protest is planned against administration immigration

policy at Lafayette Park, in the nation’s capital.

Civilian-manned posts on the Arizona-Mexico border will remain, but the second phase of the Minuteman Project will attempt to draw attention to the country’s porous borders by publicly exposing employers who violate federal laws by hiring illegal laborers, Gilchrist said.

‘‘(Gilchrist) is claiming victory ... so he felt it would be appropriate to wrap up his participation this week and prepare to go to Washington,’’ said Simcox, who also serves as the project’s field operations director.

The Minuteman Project came to life last fall, when Gilchrist sent e-mails asking for volunteers to help support the understaffed Border Patrol along the U.S.-Mexico border. Gilchrist and Simcox said they are pleased with the number of volunteers who have headed to the Tucson sector at various times during the past two-plus weeks.

Gilchrist put the estimated number of Minuteman volunteers at about 1,200, though a list of registered participants was not provided. Organizers say they have trained 770 volunteers, all of whom have patrolled or will be participating in the border project. The project has received nearly 10,000 phone calls from prospective future volunteers from across the nation, Gilchrist and Simcox said.

Simcox, who also plans to be in Washington next week, said Gilchrist isn’t severing his ties to the project or with other organizers.

Despite Gilchrist’s departure and Simcox’s temporary absence, Simcox said patrols will continue as planned until April 30, albeit under the name of Simcox’s organization – Civil Homeland Defense.

Freddie Puckett, one of the volunteers who signed to patrol the border until the end of the month and beyond, spent Monday at his post – 25 feet from Mexico, between the towns of Naco and Douglas.

‘‘I’m going to stand strong,’’ Puckett said. ‘‘I’m dedicated to defending my country and backing the Border Patrol, and it’s about time that we take this battle to employers who hire illegals.’’

There are 14 posts, each manned by five volunteers, along the Naco line in the Tucson sector, Puckett said. He contended that many of the migrants who used to cross the low fence line where he patrols have now moved into the canyons 60 to 80 miles southwest of Naco.

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus and a critic of the Bush administration’s immigration policy, said the volunteers were ‘‘heroes in my book.’’

The American Civil Liberties Union does not see heroes but vigilantes. ACLU representatives will join many of the young Legal Observers, a group from Pasadena, who have been watching the border since April 1.

Representatives will monitor the actions of Minuteman volunteers, said Lucas Guttentag, director of the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project.

‘‘Under the Constitution, every person, regardless of immigration status, is entitled to due process, and private vigilantes are not permitted to take the law into their own hands,’’ Guttentag said.

ACLU representatives say there have been growing reports and allegations of abuse of immigrants as a result of the Minutemen’s activities.

Minuteman organizers deny any wrongdoing and say volunteers have abided by state and federal laws.


The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sara A. Carter can be reached

by e-mail at sara.carter@

ACLU representatives say there have been growing reports and allegations of abuse of immigrants as a result of the Minutemen’s activities.

And their proof of that would be what exactly? Oh that's right there is none as usual. I bet Hitler would be proud of the ACLU. They sure do adhere to his advice he once gave "if you tell a lie long enough, people are bound to believe it". I've been saying this for awhile now. The ACLU needs to be shutdown under RICO and if found guilty, all of their assets should be ceased immediately, all of those involved including those who have given more than a 100 dollars a crack more than once should be immediately deported after serving a major prison sentence.

‘‘Under the Constitution, every person, regardless of immigration status, is entitled to due process, and private vigilantes are not permitted to take the law into their own hands,’’ Guttentag said.

Well JuniusJnr says that Guttentag is full of manure! The Constitution says not one word about illegal immigrants.

However, every President swears an oath to defend our borders. The current President swore that oath not once but twice! Unfortunately, he doesn't see fit to do that or even condone those who would volunteer to do so, knowing he has sent all our soldiers to defend other places.

Further, the legislative body of this gov't has made the Constitution into little better than toilet paper by twisting everything around trying to make it mean what they want it to mean at the moment.

And now, for the next step with our MinuteMen. Does anyone know where there is a list of employers who employ illegals?