Thread: Minuteman Project plans border-watch effort

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4175961.html

Sept. 10, 2006, 11:04AM
Minuteman Project plans border-watch effort


By ELIZABETH WHITE
Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO -- After a moment of silence for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, a group of civilian border-watchers plan to initiate a nearly two-month operation along the Texas-Mexico border to watch for illegal immigrants and bring attention to security issues.

The Minuteman Project, led by Jim Gilchrist, will team with its Texas affiliate and the American Border Patrol of Arizona to track suspected illegal immigrants and report them to the U.S. Border Patrol.

"If you're here illegally you don't need to be here," said Texas Minutemen President Shannon McGauley.

The groups plan a noontime rally Monday in Laredo to kick off the eight-week "Operation Sovereignty" and hope to start patrols in the highly trafficked Laredo area by Monday evening, McGauley said.

The beginning and ending dates of the operation — Sept. 11, the fifth anniversary of the attacks, and Nov. 7, Election Day — will help bring attention to the border security, McGauley said.

Speakers at the rally will include lawmakers, McGauley said, and at least one volunteer is willing to use a personal helicopter to aid the effort.

McGauley said he expects up to 300 people initially and hopes for more than 800 to volunteer on and off for the span of the operation.

The volunteers will need permission to patrol land on the border that's privately owned. McGauley said the response from land owners has been positive.

Jim Marmion, a partner at Moro Creek Ranch in Asherton, about 27 miles from the Rio Grande River, said he'll open his property to 20 volunteers.

"After visiting with (McGauley) and hearing their approach I think they're probably on the right track," Marmion said. "Non-confrontational and not anything like vigilantes."

Marmion, who said he thinks there's been no government will to enforce border security, said he'll ask the volunteers to reimburse the ranch only for water and electricity use.

Still, he's a bit nervous about the effort because the volunteers are "an unknown quantity."

Gilchrist has said volunteers are responsible for what happens during patrols. They are not supposed to approach or try to apprehend suspected illegals, only report them, McGauley said.

"I remind them they will be criminally and civilly liable for any misbehavior," said Gilchrist.

Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt said the governor "has no quarrel with law-abiding residents doing a neighborhood watch type program."

The League of United Latin American Citizens already is planning a counter demonstration.

LULAC President Rosa Rosales said the Minuteman efforts carry with them the "perception of racism."

"Border Patrol agents have special training, Minutemen have no special training," Rosales said. They're "just lay persons wanting to, I guess, patrol the border when they're really not needed."

The Minuteman Project is different from the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, led by Chris Simcox, which also patrols the border and reports illegal immigrants to authorities.

That group is planning "Operation Secure Our Borders 2006" in all four U.S.-Mexico border states and several U.S.-Canada border states for October, said spokeswoman Connie Hair. When in Texas, the group will stick to the El Paso area, she said.

McGauley said Operation Sovereignty will stretch northwest along the border to Eagle Pass and also will include a smaller operation in the El Paso area in October.

Reynaldo Garza, acting chief patrol agent for the Laredo border sector, has said the volunteers help information flow to Border Patrol agents but emphasized that the agency never requests help from civilian groups.

"They make the information known ... and then we adjust; we expect some communication with them," he said.

Garza said it's important for patrol agents to know the location of the volunteers so everyone stays safe.

Webb County Sheriff Rick Flores echoed the safety concern.

"My biggest concern is that everyone knows that the people that we're dealing with are not little league players, these people are from the big leagues," Flores said of drug and human smugglers. "We're the hottest spot in the Texas-Mexico border right now."

That Laredo area is a war zone from what I've heard. And the 'other side' has more sophisticated weaponry. I applaud those brave Minutemen for going down there. LULAC ought to be quiet. Our own citizens are just doing the job our federal government won't do. Gee, that sounds kind of familiar.

God Bless And Be With The Minute Men!

I truly don't know where we would be now without these Brave, Courageous, Determined Patriots!!

Not only is Laredo a war zone, it is also the best example of what America will be like in the next 20-30 years if we don't reverse this whole insanity around.. Laredo is 94% percent hispanic and you have to look very hard to find an english-speaking person.. You are an outsider if you think like an American.. The newly elected mayor made it very clear he does not welcome the minutemen or anything associated with it.. He is pushing very hard to get a dedicated lane at one of the International Bridges that will allow Mexican citizens free flow into the US.. The lane is already ready to go, but he's waiting for Washington final OK. It should happen this week from what I undestand.. Free flow into the US. No screening for terrorists , arms, or drugs.. Wow... I would have never imagine they would make it that easy.. This is all happening while our politicians claim they are getting tough on border security... Actions do speak louder than words..