Border Volunteers Not So Welcomed in Texas

Border Volunteers Not So Welcomed in Texas

Civilian Patrol Group That Monitors U.S.-Mexico Border Not So Welcome in Texas
By LYNN BREZOSKY Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press

HARLINGEN, Texas Jun 2, 2005 — The controversial civilian patrol group that helped capture hundreds of illegal immigrants along the Mexico-Arizona border and won praise from California's governor is getting a pre-emptive cold shoulder in Texas.

Minuteman Project organizer Chris Simcox warned that if Congress didn't buttress the U.S. Border Patrol with National Guard or other military troops this summer, the patrol would deploy to California in August and Texas in October.

But although Minuteman organizers said nearly 1,000 volunteers from around the country were ready, Texas civil rights groups, clergy, newspaper editorial boards and politicians are folding up the welcome mats.

"I think it's a problem all of Texas has with having vigilante groups from other parts of the country come to our state to try to tell us how to run our business," said Democratic state Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, an author of a resolution that urged Gov. Rick Perry to oppose Minuteman plans.

Eleven senators signed it, and Democratic state Sen. Rodney Ellis wrote Perry that Minutemen "are not welcome in Texas." Perry responded that he can't ban people from legal activity.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=812316

They really mean that, don't they!

definitely NOT needed!

Hey, after those carpetbaggers left in 1876, there's a reason the state constitution only allows the Legislature to meet once for 140 days only every two years!

If Arnie loves these guys, let 'em stay in the Golden State! Got enough of that racist xenophobia here already.....

Ahnuld speaks for himself--not Calif.!

Maria, since HE apparently does like them! Whatta ya think?)

As long as it's on private property. I have the right to protect my property from trespassers.

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't this action by these minutemen reek of a militia? And aren't militia's organized only by the U.S. Gov't? Via the Constitution?

There is just something inherently (legally) wrong about this practice, yet I can't put my finger on it. Other than the fact that some chest beating 'Merica first yahoos have to go out and prove to us that they are real men!

I think more than anything, this whole thing is just a giant farce. they capture 300+ illegals and call it a success when thousands of illegals cross into the U.S. every year, not just from Mexico but from Canada and on our shores.

Also this is just one more glaring example of how moron* doesn't do his job. All the money earmarked via "homeland security" for the border patrol had quietly been cut. So the people that actually have to protect the borders for a living are being so hamstrung by lack of man power, that groups like these minutemen are given credence. And yet no one gets pissed at our all mighty moron* about this!

'Course they (Minutemen) don't see them (Mexicans) as human.
They are simply a macho validating good time.

I always knew they wouldn't be real welcome here in Texas, and those boys are out of their league - with regard to both sides of the border.

Idiots. I suspect they will get their eyes opened real quick down on the Texas-Mexico border.

vigilante."
Meanwhile, the media calls them "agents"...

The Republican Governor of Vermont, Jim Douglas, nearly every editorial board in the state, the US Border Patrol and Vermont landowners along this northern border have made it very clear to the minutemen that they're not welcome in the Green Mountain State. One farmer, whose land abuts the border, is quoted as saying that "....if they come on my land, I'll put them to work shoveling shit - that's something they seem to do pretty well".