Border watchers have eyes on Texas (Minutemen may bring their armed patrol to the Lone Star State)

Houston Chronicle ^ | 4/5/05 | IOAN GRILLO

[BurbankKarl]

ON THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER - With the Lone Star flag flying and a pistol and knife on his belt, a Houstonian, who gave his name as Bill Breaux, stood on top of his pickup and stared through binoculars at the mountainous Arizona-Mexico border.

He was looking for migrants trying to sneak into the United States. But on this sunny day, there was not much action.

"I think I saw some little guy's head earlier, but then he ducked into the bushes," said Breaux, 48, a resident of Houston's north side, who declined to say where he works.

Breaux was proudly manning Base 4 of a monthlong volunteer border patrol they call the Minutemen Project.

200 volunteers at posts In the first few days of the patrols, which started Sunday, about 200 volunteers from across the United States have taken up positions along a 23-mile stretch of border around the Arizona towns of Naco and Douglas.

Project organizer Chris Simcox and others said they plan to organize similar border-watch projects in Texas and other states.

During eight-hour shifts, the volunteers stared at the desert, ate sandwiches and told swarms of journalists why they believe undocumented immigrants need to be kept out of the United States. When someone saw anything suspicious, he called the Border Patrol.

"This is what homeland security should look like from the Gulf of Mexico to the shores of the Pacific Ocean," said Simcox, a newspaper owner from the nearby town of Tombstone, who was driving around inspecting the bases.

"I have been in contact with some Texans who are very interested in doing a Minuteman project there," he said. He did not identify the people or specify any dates for such a project.

Simcox said he is organizing a national picketing project for June in which volunteers will demonstrate against selected businesses that employ illegal immigrants.

"We are going to name and shame the guilty employers," Simcox said.

He said the volunteers had assisted the Border Patrol in the detentions of more than 100 undocumented migrants on Saturday evening.

However, Border Patrol spokesman Jose Maheda could not confirm these figures, saying only that the agency had received no more calls from citizens than any other night.

Triggering false alarms Maheda said the volunteers had stumbled into several Border Patrol sensors designed to locate intruders, causing the government agents to spend hours checking out false alarms.

Sunday, the first full day of citizens' patrols, the volunteers did not sight any border crossers in U.S. territory, a sign that Simcox claimed as a victory.

"No illegals crossing. Nothing. We win," he said.

Patrols by armed volunteers, who have voiced criticism of illegal immigrants and U.S. border security, have raised concerns that migrants might encounter violence.

On the Mexican side of the border, agents in orange jumpsuits from the government migrant aid agency were driving around warning people where the volunteers were stationed. Many of the migrants were likely going to other sections of the border, said Bertha de la Rosa, director of Grupo Beta in the border town of Aguaprieta.

"It is our duty to alert our citizens to the danger of armed vigilantes here," de la Rosa said through the spiked fence, as a group of volunteers on the U.S. side posed with their pistols for photographers.

Many of the volunteers were carrying pistols, taking advantage of Arizona laws that allow people to openly carry firearms, even without a license. Some of the border watchers also wore bulletproof vests and camouflaged clothing.

Media attention Simcox said the real success of the project was the media attention it had won. Hundreds of radio, television and newspaper reporters from as far away as Germany descended on the south Arizona desert.

"This is a political protest," he said. "We are sending our public servants a message to remind them that they work for us, and we want national security."

Immigration officials believe that many of the 10 million undocumented migrants in the United States came over the Arizona-Mexico border. Last year, the Border Patrol detained 490,000 people here, nearly half of the 1.1 million total caught along the entire border and returned to Mexico.

Simcox and his co-organizer, Jim Gilchrist, a retired accountant from Aliso Viejo, Calif., said the project is strictly about law and order and they have nothing against legal immigration.

However, some of the volunteers who manned the watch posts said they came to the border because they are concerned about the effect immigrants have on American society.

"There is a real problem with assimilation," said Breaux, the Houstonian. "Around Houston there are a lot of people who won't carry American or Texas flags on their car. Instead they carry a flag from El Salvador or Mexico."

Volunteer Chad Robinson, 50, of Phoenix, said he is worried about diseases that he says immigrants bring.

Effort has critics Ray Ybarra, a member the American Civil Liberties Union, which had its own volunteers observing the border watchers, said the real agenda of the Minuteman Project is to fight the influence of nonwhite cultures on American society.

"They are scared of the Latino influence on the American Southwest," he said. "But American culture is always changing."

Minutemen volunteer Ron Mills, 35, a schoolteacher from Phoenix, said he has nothing against Latinos and has a Mexico-born wife. He said he came to the border to protest illegal immigrants jumping the queue for work visas.

Mills said that his wife's parents were upset by his participation in the project.

"They are not happy with me," he said. "But I tell them if immigration was all legal, it would be a lot less dangerous. No one dies coming into the United States at an airport."

[Spktyr]

If this happens in Texas, I'll be there. It won't be nearly as much of a cakewalk as it's been in AZ so far; there is a continuous war going on in South Texas - lots of cross-border raids from bandidos and Mexican gangs. They recently took over a ranch and executed everyone on the premises.

There's a lot of ranchers down there that sit up in shifts over belt-fed weapons.

[Spktyr]

Oh, and NO, this is not a call to violence or promoting violence. I merely point out that the illegals entering in Texas appear to be far more violently inclined than those observed in Arizona so far. I strongly suspect that the volunteers in Texas will actually be fired upon, should the project come here.

[BurbankKarl]

A group of migrants is being taken back to the city by the Beta group after they were intercepted and convinced by the Beta Group that it will be difficult to cross at La Morita ranch Tuesday April 5, 2005, in Agua Prieta Mexico, due to the Minuteman volunteers who are watching the border.

A group of migrants walk back along of the fence after the Beta group intercepted them and convinced them it will be dificult to cross at La Morita ranch Tuesday April 5, 2005, in Agua Prieta Mexico, due the Minuteman volunteers who are watching the border.

[BurbankKarl]

Do you have open carry in Texas?

[Spktyr]

I'm really hoping this thing mushrooms out of control and the covert infiltrations supported by Mexico will be exposed by the media because they can no longer ignore it.

[Spktyr]

Not of pistols. We have legal open carry of longarms, which is better, IMHO.

[Spktyr]

Er, longarms are better for this purpose. The bandidos are armed with SMGs and HK rifles stolen from the Mexican army.

[Crazieman]

Damn straight, minutemen from the Gulf to San Diego

[BurbankKarl]

[Gigantor]

"...there is a continuous war going on in South Texas - lots of cross-border raids from bandidos and Mexican gangs. They recently took over a ranch and executed everyone on the premises."

Is there a link to a story about this - I'd like to show it to some of my 'undocumented worker' supporting friends.

[Spktyr]

I'm looking for the CNN cite now. It was about a year ago.

[injin]

" minutemen from the Gulf to San Diego"

I think what is needed is a West bank style Wall
all the way from the Gulf to the Pacific .Built deep into the
ground as well. The flimsy fences I keep seeing are a joke!
What a farce.
With a good Wall , those that want to come in and do qualify
can do so by legal means , all the rest will be stopped cold.
Isn't that what we all want? Build the damn Wall.

[mommadooo3]

lots of cross-border raids from bandidos and Mexican gangs. They recently took over a ranch and executed everyone on the premises.

Do you have the source for that info? I DON'T disbelieve you, just want to read the article.

[Spktyr]

Still looking for the ranch cite, but here's a CNN cite that should give you somewhere to start.

Remains of up to 5 people found on Mexican border ranch, may be mass grave of up to 100 people; see the inset for more disturbing info: http://archives.cnn.com/1999/WORLD/americas/12/01/mexico.mass.graves.01/index.html

[Melas]

They can keep clear of Texas, they're not wanted here.

[Melas]

No, open carry is illegal in Texas. Even a CCL holder can lose his/her license by failing to conceal.

[Melas]

You mean banditos. Bandidos are a motorcycle club.

[Spktyr]

Open carry of PISTOLS is banned. Longarms are perfectly legal to open carry.

[Spktyr]

Argh - yes, insert t, delete d. It's late and I'm typoing.

[Melas]

Since you came up with a 6 year old article from CNN, I think it's safe to say that your claim that South Texas is aflame with violent immigrant crime, is at best overblown. At worst an intentional endeavor to decieve. In either event, just not true. Incidents of violence are isloated.

[Melas]

No worries. A simple mistake. I on the other hand, actually actually put my life and limb in jeapordy by repeatedly saying "Bandito" around a bunch of Bandidos. They're a worthless criminal bunch, but I'll give them credit, they're as bad assed as they come and their reputation is warranted.

[Spktyr]

http://www.window.state.tx.us/border/ch10/ch10.html

"For most Texans, the murder and mayhem surrounding illegal drug smuggling in Mexico may seem distant. The reality, however, is that drug-related violence in Mexico is spilling over the Texas border. Ranchers in Maverick County, 150 miles southwest of San Antonio, report that armed traffickers dressed in black or wearing camouflage clothing pass through their properties after crossing the Rio Grande. By one account, many ranchers have started carrying handcuffs in case of unwelcome encounters."

[Spktyr]

http://www.ranchrescue.com/texas.htm

"One of our hosts revealed that he has witnesssed drug smugglers in groups of ten or more, heavily laden with packs of illicit drugs and armed with AK-47 battle rifles, crossing his remote ranch property in broad daylight. His employees have been threatened with death, and two of them have been told that the drug smugglers are now offering bounties on their heads."

[Melas]

"For most Texans, the murder and mayhem surrounding illegal drug smuggling in Mexico may seem distant. The reality, however, is that drug-related violence in Mexico is spilling over the Texas border. Ranchers in Maverick County, 150 miles southwest of San Antonio, report that armed traffickers dressed in black or wearing camouflage clothing pass through their properties after crossing the Rio Grande. By one account, many ranchers have started carrying handcuffs in case of unwelcome encounters."

Drug smuggling is a different topic altogether. Drug smugglers have always been bad news, and neither race nor nationality have ever made a bit of difference. The Bandidos we spoke of a couple of messages ago routinely smuggle drugs into the country from South/Central America and Mexico, and they're uniformly gringo.

[Ain Soph Aur]

No one dies coming into the United States at an airport.


I very much approve of the Minuteman Project, but I couldn't resist.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

Confining a nation's border patrol to only one state is like having only one mousetrap in a beautiful mansion full of rooms.

[TexConfederate1861]

Thats ok: "If they mean to have a war, let it begin HERE!"

[speed_addiction]

Incidents of violence are isloated.

Isolated usually means little unless it happens to you or yours. A few years ago a friend and customer of my business was shot with a bow and arrow by illegal aliens. This happened in the desolate hills of west Texas and sparked a massive manhunt. These people were captured by a rifle wielding rancher just a few hundred yards from town. Had they made it into town, it could have been tragic. This is a very conservative town with many women staying home raising families and running the house while their men work.

Should such a project as the Minutemen take hold, I could be quite an asset. I know all of the smuggling trails and routes like the back of my hand.

[TexConfederate1861]

Speak for YOURSELF. I'm a Texan, and they ARE wanted here!
I'm sick and tired of all the d*mn illegals that are taking over this state!

[oceanperch]

Yet the word is up here in the PNW is that the drug smugglers use the illegal immigrants to do their dirty work as payment to smuggle them in and then keep them in the business by threats.

So who ends up in jail for selling and smuggling drugs US side the illegal immigrants.

I have a good source on that info.

[speed_addiction]

I have a good source on that info.

I'm sorry sweetheart but your source just may be wrong on this one.

[Spktyr]

It doesn't matter whether people are coming across the border for drugs or for employment - if they're not US Citizens, and they're crossing illegally, they're illegal immigrants.

Some additional cites:

http://www.alpineavalanche.com/articles/2004/01/22/news/news01.txt

"Late Friday afternoon, Jan. 16, law enforcement officials responded to a call from ranch hands at the Paul Weyerts Ranch. They quickly converged in southeastern Brewster County to apprehend illegal Mexican nationals who allegedly stole guns and other items from the ranch after tying up the two ranch hands."

Ah, found a cite:

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/06/Worldandnation/Case_wins_Hawaii_race.shtml

"EDINBURG, Texas -- Six men, including two brothers, were shot to death early Sunday in a home invasion by four or five intruders who were probably looking for weapons and drugs, authorities said."

I can't find a follow-up article, but the one on CNN mentioned that the perps were thought to be illegals.

[Spktyr]

http://www.dallasobserver.com/issues/2002-05-30/feature2.html/1/index.html

'"If you're out of their path, it's not a big problem, but if you're in their corridor, it's everything you can imagine: damage, theft, vandalism and threats," says Manuel Benavides, who owns several ranches near Laredo. "Just to give you an idea, one year, we had to replace a stove in a ranch house four different times because it was damaged. We tried keeping a family out there, but the minute they'd leave the house, all their possessions would walk out. It's to the point where we can't keep a family out there for fear of intimidation. They show up in groups of 15 to 20. Are you going to leave your wife out there? I don't think so."'

[Melas]

Let me get this straight, there were Mexicans, armed with bows and arrows heading into your town, but luckily a rifle weilding rancher saved the day for everyone? Do you have a source I could use to verify this story? Not to be rude, but it strikes me as slightly outlandish.

[Melas]

I'm not speaking solely for myself and you know it. I was happy with Governor Bush's handling of the situation, I'm happy with Perry's handling of the situation, and I don't see myself on the opposite side of the fence anytime soon.

No one is taking over this state. Texas has had a rich hispanic heritage since 1682. I don't forsee the day when you'll ever get a true groundswell of support against migrants in Texas. It's not going to happen.

[Melas]

My son-in-law, a police officer and I had this conversation a while back. It's just not true. The so called mule, whether it be the airline stewardess swallowing balloons of coke, or the Mexican migrant carrying drugs on his person, has never been anything more than a leaky faucet of drug traffic compared to a raging river of organized smuggling via truck and plane.

[Melas]

Truck, boat and plane.

[Centurion2000]

They can keep clear of Texas, they're not wanted here.

Like hell they aren't wanted.

[TexConfederate1861]

You had better wake up and smell the coffee, friend. There are PLENTY of Texans that feel the way I do. Including my wife, who is a 7th generation hispanic-texan. The schools in Willacy County, where I grew up are practically BANKRUPT over this issue. Why do you think Perry and our legislaturearte trying to raise our taxes? BECAUSE OUR STATE IS GOING BROKE, TRYING TO SUPPORT ILLEGALS! Ask Harris County Hospital District about why they are broke, and going more and more into debt.......

Same Answer.

[speed_addiction]

he illegals broke into a hunting camp and found a compoound bow and arrows. They were two men and a woman. The only industries around here are ranching and the oil fields. They guy the shot was a pumper for one of the oil companies. Meridian Oil (now Dominion Oil and Gas).

The pumpers are the guys that go from lease to lease and well to well taking readings and production measurements. They usually work alone and cover vast distances. They usually see only a pumper or two from another company or ranchers as they go about their day.

The illegals saw him go through a gate and waited for him to come back. When he did they shot him in the back. Though it is "against policy" most of these guys carry pistols in thier trucks or on their person while out there. This guy did and pulled it out. This made them run away.

He drove a couple of miles before shock and blood loss made it impossible for him to drive and he stopped when he saw another pumper approaching. This pumper called the incident in since he had a radio. The wounded guy had only a cell phone that was in a bad cell.

Other pumpers and ranchers showed up along with the highway patrol and county sheriffs department. A posse so to speak was put together and a manhunt ensued.

They were not captured that day, but were spotted a couple of times and fired upon once.

It was not until the next afternoon that they were caught.

I live in a small (2800 pop.) town and our newspaper does not post online. There was a small blurb in a regional paper (San Angelo Standard Times) but I have yet to be able to find it there.

The one who shot my friend with the bow had done time in Texa and had been deported.

[TexConfederate1861]

And this is not about our rich Hispanic heritage. It is about people from another country INVADING illegally.

[speed_addiction]

The so called mule, whether it be the airline stewardess swallowing balloons of coke, or the Mexican migrant carrying drugs on his person, has never been anything more than a leaky faucet of drug traffic compared to a raging river of organized smuggling via truck and plane.

For every ton that goes by truck across the border, just as much is smuggled across on foot. Usually duffel bags full. Illegals are used for this and they usually get the stuff just across the border a few hundred feet and it is picked up there and delivered to a stash house.

Smuggling is a more involved process than people think. Dealers rarely smuggle their own wares. There are people who specialize in this and charge (for weed anyway) $25 to $35 a pound. His people will come to where your stuff is stored weigh it in your presence and then drop it on the other side of the border.

The dealer then wait at the stash house where the stuff will be transported from and it is weighed again. Woe ot a ot of people should any more than a few ounces be missing.

This goes on every night at least a dozen times a night in the area surrounding Del Rio, Texas. Now the same thing is happen a dozen times a night in Eagle, Pass. Laredo. Brownsville. Zapata, Harligen, El Paso, McAllen, Falfurrias, Rio Grand City, Presido. Looks like there just might be a problem here.

[oceanperch]

OK Poopsy if I am wrong I will admit it.

So then possibly our local County jail is full of migrants/illegals who went down for PCS because they are willingly dealing dope or heavy users.

[Zeroisanumber]

As a political statement, I approve. As a practical plan... well, let's just say that I hope that they brought their rattlesnake juice.

[Melas]

I can already see myself on the opposite side of a protest barrier from you and Texconfederate1861. You say they're wanted, I say they aren't. There are only 3 possibilities here:

1) You're right, and I'm wrong. Texans are behind you.

2) I'm right and you're wrong, and a majority of Texans feel as I do.

3) In a word, it's a tie.

Personally, I'm fairly certain it's #2, but if they come here, I guess we'll find out.

[oceanperch]

Leaky faucett? Yes indeed.

I agree they are at the bottom of the ring.

But it is still wrong and the "mule" is wrong as well for choosing to do it to get a way here. Double jeopardy.

[Cobra64]

And PNW means what? Some of us don't have a clue when people use the ABC alphabet soup. And I'm in the frigging computer business!

[speed_addiction]

So then possibly our local County jail is full of migrants/illegals who went down for PCS because they are willingly dealing dope or heavy users.

I won't say there are none, but what is there, are not big time players. Low level end users and street sellers. Big time players do not use illegals. They are too obvious and logistically are a nightmare because they usually have no license, don't know the routes.

Wholesalers stick to either residents or citizens. Even the Coyotes that smuggle illegals are usually Americans.

[speed_addiction]

PNW

Pacific Northwest