Would you join the Minutemen watching the border

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FAQ starts a little ways down - quite interesting ---

Comments from Jack, a border area resident:

Cochise County is fairly conservative. The oldest families settled Tombstone and Bisbee; the next wave were Mormons who originally settled around St. David. However, the largest bunch now are
retirees from Fort Huachuca. Most of the Democrats here are more conservative than urban Republicans.

The main opposition to anything we do here will come out of Tucson.

We have about 30,000 Hispanics, mostly Mexican-American, with most of them concentrated in the town of Douglas. Most hate the border situation as much as we do. They've been here ever since the US Cav
sorted out the Apaches and know quite well just how unsuccesful the Spaniards and Mexicans were. A lot of them speak very little Spanish. Believe it or not, I have to depend on a Puerto Rican lady
at work for any Spanish assistance.

We also have thousands of legal Mexicans who cross the border every day to shop, socialize, visit friends & family, etc. You won't be meeting any of them out on the trails. Well -- you might. Some of them have the disconcerting habit of paying for their purchases with crisp new $100 bills and seldom look at price tags before tossing the item in the cart. Most of the Mexican border towns here only exist as logistics points for the smuggling trade.

In general terms, the objectives of the Minuteman Project can be met with very little danger to its participants from anyone. None of the local authorities will be looking to bust our chops unless we start acting really stupid. Most illegals will try to avoid confrontation if at all possible. They are more afraid of the "uncontrolled vigilantes" than they are of anyone wearing a badge.

The only serious hazard here is the drug smugglers. If you spot a group with members carrying loads heavier than a 6th grader's backpack, immediately bug out on a 90 degree path away from them.
Put as much distance as possible between you and them. They usually have a net of scouts surrounding them. Call it in, but don't touch a radio or cell phone until you have at least a quarter mile of
separation.

JB

Q1:
I'm still not sure what the plan is exactly. Just what are the participants going to do in Arizona?

A1:
The main mission of The Minuteman Project is to bring national attention to the fact that the U. S. Federal Government is not fulfilling its mission to protect American citizens from the economic and physical danger of porous borders. The majority of peace loving Americans are concerned about the ramifications of allowing massive amounts of unscreened, undocumented aliens to just walk right into our country. And of course the greatest fear that lurks in the dark corners of our minds is another 9-11 attack, or worse, a suit case bomb.

The Minuteman Project plans rallies in support of the rank and file U.S. Border Patrol agents, protest rallies of blatantly unenforced federal immigration laws, and actively spotting and reporting anyone, of any race, color or creed, crossing into the US illegally.

We will seal the border by our presence, but will not violate anyone's civil rights, and will not abuse anyone from any country. By legal means we will observe ILLEGAL immigrants on trails heading north. We will alert border patrol to the location of illegals, and wait for USBP to come and pick them up. We will follow illegal aliens from a distance and continue spotting them until authorities answer our cell phone and/or back-pack radio calls. All spotting, calls for assistance, and the response from the appropriate authorities will be chronicled and provided to any media representative.

Standing, camping and patrolling at the border fence (four-strands of barb wire) we will be a presence that most illegals will not brush aside and pass by to enter the USA. We will be following the experienced lead of groups like Chris Simcox of Civil Home Defense. They have led to the arrest of over 5000 illegal aliens and led authorities to over 8000 pounds of drugs in the last 4 years.

There will be a meeting of Minutemen in the Tombstone, AZ on April 1, 2005 and there will be a sign carrying rally along Naco Highway across from the USBP Station on April 2 and 3, and 15.

During the entire month of April minutemen and women will be disbursed along the border fence and within the Tombstone Triangle. There will be walks (Patrols) day and night. We will be mobile and move into any area that needs attention. When not patrolling or manning an observation post, there will be time to enjoy each others company, actually birdwatch, view animals, and enjoy the old historic events of the area.

Old Tombstone, has the like of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday, the Clantons, big nosed Kate, and many dress up figures coming and going. It is a left over, a preservation of the rough and tumble west. You will see many guns, some replicas and many real and loaded. This is the Wild West...Cochise County, the last of the Old West.

Then there is the romantic Bisbee Historic section, worth a visit. Many places to walk and drive. Much to see. Minerals to be found. Characters to be observed. Come to do your duty, and come to vacation. You control your time here. You decide the time and things in which you wish to participate. We just need brave men and women with eyes and ears to come help.

Q2:
Do people carry firearms, or just observe without protection?

A2:
The Minuteman Project is neutral on this issue. We encourage everyone to obey the laws of the State of Arizona, including open carry laws regarding firearms.

Q3:
Is The Minuteman Project working with other groups?

A3:
The MMProject will be joined by members of other "spotting" groups who have been conducting these activities with only a few participants for years. The MMProject will
rely mostly upon the experience of the members of Civil Homeland Defense, headquartered in Tombstone, Az., for the management of spotting activity.

Q4:
Are you looking more for those with military experience, or can just anyone offer help?

A4:
The MMProject welcomes volunteers from all walks of life, regardless of vocation, race, color, creed, age, gender, physical disability, etc.

Due to their proven ability to handle stressful situations current or former members of any law enforcement or U.S. military organization are enthusiastically invited to join this mission. Also, a large presence of law enforcement veterans provides an ambiance of security and deters any "undesirables" from joining the MMProject.

Q5:
What kind of expenses do we need to plan for?

A5:
Travel expenses to and from Arizona; lodging expenses (motels= $60 - $70/ day for a two-bed room); meal expenses.

Some Arizona ranchers and property owners have offered their property for use free for those with RVs and/or tents.

Q6:
You have stated on your web site that the volunteers will be defending our fellow Americans and their property. I'd like to know just what you propose to do.

A6:
Volunteers, in groups of four to eight persons, will set up observation posts and also walk patrols in areas known to be pathways of illegal entry into the US. At least one person with prior experience will accompany these observation posts. Some of these posts and patrols will be right on the US-Mexico border, or within several hundred yards of it.
Other observation points will be two miles or more north of the border. The locations will vary, depending on intelligence reports that the MMProject will gather prior to, and during, the April mission.

When intruders are spotted, USBP agents will be summoned by cell phone. The MMProject communication center should also be notified at this time via cell phone or pre-established short wave radio systems that will be available on April 1. The intruders will be followed until USBP shows up to intercept and apprehend them.

No "hostile" confrontation with intruders will be allowed. The MMProject participants will only "spot and report", the USBP takes it from there.

If the intruders move through your ranks, you let them pass. You may continue to follow them and provide USBP and the MMProject communication center with updates of the location of the intruders. You do not threaten them in any manner. If they are in need of food or water, you may provide some. If they are in need of medical attention, you inform USBP of their need for medical attention. Under no circumstances are you to engage in argumentative or hostile confrontation with any illegal alien. You back off, and let the USBP properly conduct the interception and apprehension of the illegal aliens.

If you are susceptible to "road rage", or "hot temper" syndromes, then this volunteer work is not for you. Any such acts will seriously jeorpardize the goal of the MMProject and bring unwanted ridicule to its efforts to assist the USBP. It will also prevent the MMProject from sending a mature and sincere message to Washington that Americans want their immigration laws "enforced".

Remember, we are there to "assist" law enforcement in the conduct of their jobs, not to take the law into our own hands. A violation of this standard could easily result in your arrest for alleged kidnapping. This is a very sensitive issue and you are earnestly warned NOT to interfere with the movement of illegal aliens other than to observe and report their location to USBP.

The MMproject communication center will document all reports of illegal alien sightings and how the USBP responded to the "spotters" call for assistance. The results of these reports and how law enforcement responded to them will be provided to the public and all media representatives who want that information.

Various members of the media may be present to report to their respective print or broadcast medium. Also, many volunteers will be equipped with still and video cameras to also record these events on film.

Q7:
What kind of equipment do we need to bring?

A7:
Warm clothing for night activiey, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen. Temp ranges from 45 night, to 85 day, during April. Cell phone would be a good idea...walkie talkies...however, equp depends on what you will do....camp overnight....day time foot patrol only? etc.

The best way to get specific info about this and other topics is to SIGN UP for the MMProject so that you can get pemission to enter the message board and ask other participants and Arizonans questions.
Go to www.minutemanproject.com and click on SIGN UP and provide requested info. You are not obligated to go just because you sign up, but that is the only way you can get access to the message board.

Q8:
What kind of expenses do we need to plan for?

A8:
Travel expenses to and from Arizona; lodging expenses (motels= $60 - $70/ day for a two-bed room); meal expenses.

Some Arizona ranchers and property owners have offered their property for use free for those with RVs and/or tents.

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Just call it a double bonus. Smile

Don't worry Steve. The US will always protect Canada's back, even though many of you despise envy our free country and economic system.

Member

It's exactly this mentality that makes the world view us as it does.

Pyromaniac

Member

AZhat

Adjunct

Member

No, I would not. Living down here, so close to Haiti and Cuba is a real eye-opener in terms of how awful other country's conditions can be. I guess I understand why people want to leave such horrrific places. And working with such a diverse group of individuals in both the resort and restaurant side, seeing their work ethics and desire for a better life for themselves and their families has made me more appreciative for the America that once took the "tired, the poor, the broken, the starving" (I forget the exact wording of the quote). I wouldn't want to be in the position to turn away someone who was searching for a better life.

Newbie

Only if the "boarder" starting rifling the cupboards and eating food they didn't bring when they rented their room...(well somebody had to say it!)

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Bring back the Curling part of this debate!!!!! Hell any sport you can have a beer on the ice is a great sport to me!

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Would you join the Minutemen watching the border

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