Perry opposes civilian patrols
Spokesman: Governor believes border control up to government

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... aa8fe.html
07:56 PM CDT on Friday, May 20, 2005


By TRACEY EATON / The Dallas Morning News


MISSION, Texas – Gov. Rick Perry sympathizes with Texans who are frustrated with illegal immigration, but "he has no desire to see the Minuteman Project" or any other civilian patrols operating along the Texas-Mexico border, his spokesman said Friday.

"Border control and the enforcement of immigration laws are the responsibility of the federal government, and they're the ones who need to step up and take care of this issue," said Robert Black, a spokesman for the governor.

Eleven Texas senators on Thursday filed a resolution asking the governor to prevent the launch of a Minuteman-style project in Texas.

Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, said federal border guards don't need help from "untrained individuals who could ultimately pose serious danger to citizens and immigrants along the border region."

Civilian volunteers for the so-called Minuteman Project patrolled a 20-mile section of the border in Arizona in April, drawing nationwide attention to the problem of illegal immigration.

Since then, immigration reform advocates in Texas have been organizing a similar patrol, tentatively set for October.

Ron Ashcraft, 68, a piano technician and member of a Dallas group called Citizens for Immigration Reform, said he supports the effort.

"Citizens are trying to do what the federal government should have done years ago," he said. "It's the government's constitutional duty to protect our borders.

"The Minutemen are my heroes," he said.

E-mail teaton@dallasnews.com

Sixx says: In case you are not from Texas, Slick Rick Perry, a.k.a.
Gov. Scary, was the handpicked stooge of Jorge. If you think Bush is dumb, get a load of this fool.