There are plenty of Mexican-Americans on the Border Patrol. Two of them went to jail because Bush's prosecutors saw fit to persecute them for enforcing the law. (He did commute their sentences, but the felonies are on their permanent record).
Beck had a guest on the other day who stated that it was instances like this where the government loses credibility and creates people willing to set up their own mini-governments.
The idea has a certain appeal.