U.S. vigilante group recruiting members to patrol Mexican border

The News (Mexico City) ^ | February 20, 2002 | Maria Leon

[sarcasm]

Mexican migrants wait on the other side of the U.S. border for a chance to climb over the fence. File Photo, TheNewsMexico.com

U.S. vigilante group recruiting members to patrol Mexican border

Maria Leon, EFE - 2/20/2002

DOUGLAS, Arizona - Human rights groups have complained about Operation Falcon, a campaign launched by the anti-immigrant group Ranch Rescue in an effort to recruit volunteers to help guard the border between Arizona and Mexico.

Through its Web page, the group made up of Texas ranchers has invited U.S. citizens to participate in a campaign aimed at stopping illegal immigration in Cochise County, Arizona, this spring. The group says members of terrorist organizations may have entered the United States illegally through that county, which continues to witness the most activity of any on the border between Mexico and the United States.

Ranch Rescue maintains it is now more important than ever to put border security into the hands of "good" citizens because the Border Patrol has been ineffective in stemming the tide of illegal immigration.

This is the second time Ranch Rescue has threatened to patrol the roads along the border between Douglas and Agua Prieta, Mexico.

In the past, the group has distributed flyers inviting volunteers to join in a "hunt" for undocumented immigrants, whom they describe as criminals who come to destroy ranches, rob and smuggle drugs.

According to the information on its Web page, the group plans to descend on the border between Arizona and the Mexican state of Sonora during the last two weeks of March.

Immigration attorney Isabel Garcia, director of the Human Rights Coalition of Arizona, said Ranch Rescue was coming to Arizona at the invitation of Douglas ranchers. A group of armed ranchers led by Roger Barnett has devoted itself to detaining undocumented immigrants in the Douglas area.

Barnett has stated on several occasions that he has detained and turned over approximately 1,000 undocumented immigrants to the Border Patrol.

Garcia said the presence of this anti-immigrant group in Arizona is another consequence of continued militarization along the border and unjust U.S. immigration laws.

"These groups are taking advantage of the uncertainty existing in our country to spread their racist hatred and resentment against undocumented immigrants," Garcia insisted.

The immigration attorney also said undocumented immigrants crossing the border at Douglas are generally Mexicans or Central Americans looking for work.

Illegal immigration has once again become a hot topic in Arizona, where legislators and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) officials will meet next week to study a possible increase in the number of agents assigned to the area.

[wafflehouse]

what is the problem with keeping illegal aliens out again?

[Centurion2000]

DOUGLAS, Arizona - Human rights groups have complained about Operation Falcon, a campaign launched by the anti-immigrant group Ranch Rescue in an effort to recruit volunteers to help guard the border between Arizona and Mexico.

Where's the problem ??

[KirklandJunction]

It's not quite as black/white as this article suggests. Not every rancher is getting on this.
Part of the problem is rancher distaste for having the state government so eager to use National Guard troops to wander around looking for trouble.
I've heard of one rancher who was livid when the INS "accidentaly" shot a cow! Law suits to follow.
Personally, I had to help some Tucson dorks from the University when they got stuck in the dirt trying to find thirsty and starving illegals walking around. (Totally clueless.)
Meanwhile, the number two reason for illegals walking north is the rumored golden kingdom of Welfare. Stop the welfare crap, and the walking illegal traffic will drop to nothing.
Personally, my family would like to find some wealthy fund to hire charter busses, pick up the illegals in Agua Prieta, and bus 'em non-stop up to Hillary and Teddy K.
A

[Joe Brower]

I love how the media shills on both sides of the US/Mexican border always decry America's efforts to keep illegal aliens out of the country, but never address the REAL issue -- namely, WHY is Mexico such a third-world sh!thole in the first place that drives it's people to such desperate measures?

Oh, right, that would hold the Mexican government responsible for it's own failures. Of course, never mind...

[Buffalo Bob]

Imagine the human rights outrage if homosexual illegal aliens were being denied illegal access to Amerika!

[KirklandJunction]

Part of the problem is the Big City Vigilantes (we had one who carried Pat Buchanan booklets like they were part Bible and part GetOutOfJail free cards!) who have no concept of rural property rights, never close gates, chest-thumpers who want to shoot anything that moves, especially anything that moves with black hair and brown skin.
A

[Movemout]

Undocumented must be the new euphemism for illegal. It makes it sound like they might have just lost some pesky paperwork and you know how easy it is to lose track of all those forms.

[lavaroise]

Human rights group could care less about rape of AMerica by immigrants and Mexican policy of sending people over here.

human rights my arse. Sounds more like a bad case of witness intimidation and rape advocate.

[RaceBannon]

Personally, my family would like to find some wealthy fund to hire charter busses, pick up the illegals in Agua Prieta, and bus 'em non-stop up to Hillary and Teddy K.

That's a job I'd take!! I just need a class-2 license now!

[chainsaw]

anti-immigrant group Ranch Rescue in an effort to recruit volunteers to help guard the border between Arizona and Mexico.

They are not an Anti-Immigrant Group, they are the local militia upholding the Constitution of the United states that our central government refuses to do. An anti-immigrant group would also attempt to prevent legal immigration, which they are not. Keep up the good anti-terrorist work fellows.

[11B3]

Exactly - "to defend this nation against all enemies, both foreign and domestic". Of course, this isn't PC with those out of touch a$$holes in DC.

[KirklandJunction]

On behalf of my friends, Mexico is NOT a third world sh!t hole. (Some of the border towns have disgusting neighborhoods that cater to American tourists.)
But if that's how you think of your neighbors, I guess you're not picky about where you live.
A real big reason for illegals is the Glorious Welfare State of California.......so you're the cause. Clean up your own crap, please!
P.S. Auto factories in Mexico hire locals. Mexico isn't big on welfare, so the Central Americans keep walking right up to the socialist paradise of San Diego.
A

[wwcc]

Imagine the human rights outrage if homosexual illegal aliens were being denied illegal access to Amerika!

That has already happened.

A gay transvestite from Mexico got into the US by claiming that he was persecuted in Mexico.

[Dante3]

Lets not forget those claiming religious persecution. This is reportedly how Soltys(sp?), the guy who murdered his wife, little children and other relatives, got into US even though he was not religious, had beaten a former wife, and was rejected by the Ukranian army for mental problems.

[Morgan's Raider]

Garcia said the presence of this anti-immigrant group in Arizona is another consequence of continued militarization along the border and unjust U.S. immigration laws.

Gee, Isabel. Name me one other country in the world that allows even legal immigration to the extent that this country does.

Unjust immigration laws my ass.

[Destructor]

"In the past, the group has distributed flyers inviting volunteers to join in a "hunt" for undocumented immigrants, whom they describe as criminals who come to destroy ranches, rob and smuggle drugs."

There's a certain amount of truth here, but this statement is not entirely true. Wetbacks come here for different reasons. Some are criminals, but most come here to find work. They can make way more here than they can in Mexico, and they send money home to support their families (which are usually large). Most that I've talked to would rather be home in Mexico, but they can't find jobs there.

[Joe Brower]

I agree with you that the welfare state perpetuated by the Kalifornistan state government is a primary reason why illegals flock there. That's just one of the reasons I left California behind a year and half ago. And despite your accusations, I am no more the cause of this than you are. I have fought it tooth and nail.

As far as my comments about the general state of Mexico, most of my experiences there are from the Baja penisula down to Cabo San Lucas. I have also been to Mazatlan and Mexico City. I stand by my assessment. I also consider many inner cities in the U.S. to also fit that description.