The Minuteman Project

[Strider]

Illegal immigrants like to cross the Mexico-U.S. border through the harsh Arizona deserts. Something like several hundred hopeful people enter the United States each month with the simple hope of finding work. In the last week or so, though, a group of local American residents have taken it upon themselves to stem the flow of these immigrants, much to the chagrin of those Mexicans and U.S. officials.

It's called the Minuteman Project, and its aim is to simply observe anyone trying to cross the border illegally. There have been strict orders not to apprehend any illegal aliens themselves, but to report the incidents they uncover to border control authorities. Likewise, the Mexican government has cobbled together a group of volunteers to discourage crossing into the U.S. because of these people. It hasn't deterred many, for the most part, as most Mexicans are willing to wait until the project ends next month before attempting to cross.

Some American officials call it "vigilante justice" and worry these Minutemen could bring about violence between their ranks and the Mexicans. The results, however, can't be argued as the number of crossings in their watch area have dropped from 400 to just a few dozen. A couple of illegal aliens were even found at a community college in a town near the border, and they were rounded up just the same.

Has anyone else heard about this? It's proven effective, at least in the short term, but chances are it won't change anything once the project ends.

[DMKA]

I wish we could all just be one world, one human race, and live.

[nik0tine]

I live in Arizona and I do not like this idea. These minutemen bastards are jsut racists.

There are two types of racists in this world: Ones who know it, and ones who don't. I find that the vast majority of people are racist, but because society looks down on racism so much these people have it hidden and do not realize it is there. The way I see it, the people who are so angry about immigration just don't like Mexicans. That's all there is to it.

[Black Mage]

I disagree.

Illegal aliens should not be entering the country in the first place, and as such, I see no problem with having a watch with which they are reported.

If violence stems from these watches, then I believe the intervention needs to happen, but if the watches are proving to be as effective as they are now, I have no problem with them.

Immigration is fine, if it's done in a legal manner.

[Miriel]

I can see where these "Minuteman" are coming from. They're just trying to stop an illegal activity that the government obviously isn't handling themselves.

But my sympathies will always lie with the illegal immigrants. These people are trying to find a better life for themselves. I can't fault them for that.

[udsuna]

I have mexican family. Not many, but some. They're all legal. The illegal immigration is an insult to their hard work and patience. Of course, they have a few children who were born here. Those children are just as american as I am. Heck, most of my heritage is immigrant, too. I have some native blood, so that negates a portion. And, as far as I'm concerned, these "minutemen" are (thus far) doing the right thing.

[Gnostic Yevon]

I can kinda see how they could be considered racist. There's a border to the north where it would be very easy for someone to march right across the border. Yet every time people talk about illegal immigrants, it's Mexico, the Mexican Border. If I was going to try to smuggle something or someone dangerous in this country, I'd go though Canada, because nobody seems worried about the porousness of the Canadian Border. Nobody ever suggests that troops be put on the Canadian Border. If this were truely just about illegals, then why not put minutemen on *both* borders?

[fire_of_avalon]

Things concerning illegal immigration go much much much deeper than what the Minuteman Project is trying to accomplish here. Preventative measures concerning illegal immigration (hmm, I don't know, perhaps a stable economy and not being raped by NAFTA) are avaliable, easily applicable, and totally overlooked.

In short, I am just short of being apathetic towards the Minuteman Project. I say just short because I am concerned by the fact that the efforts being put forth by these citizens would be much more valuable in other places, as far as the long run is concerned.

[Sasquatch]

Black Mage, I completely agree with you.

Legal immigration is fine, I have absolutely no problem with it. Hell, I would encourage it. Illegal immigration is a problem, period, and needs to be dealt with. Very few people have a problem with legal immigrants, it's just that the multitude of illegal immigrants give the legit ones a bad name. It's not "racism" that makes people not like illegal immigrants, it's the fact that they're illegal immigrants. If America was surged with thousands of illegals from Canada, or let's say England, every year, then yes, most of us would have a problem with them too, and it's not because they're Canadians or English.

I salute what these people are doing. Whatever their hidden motives are--whether they're racist or not doesn't matter (even though it's ridiculous to label them like that)--what they're doing is a good thing, and they should keep it up. As Black Mage said, if they get violent, then something needs to change, but right now they're effective, and there's no point in doing anything to hinder them.

By the way, the reason we don't have "Minutemen" on the Canadian border is, for one thing, it's three thousand miles long, and for another, there aren't thousands upon thousands of illegal Canadian immigrants coming into America every year. There aren't drug rings that smuggle cocaine and marijuana through the Canadian border near as much as the Mexican border.

[Excelsior]

i think that the minuteman project is doing good work, especially when an illegal gets into one of those "shelter" states or whatever there called, like texas. did anyone hear about how there was an illegal immigrant murderer/rapist, and since he was an illegal in texas, the police couldnt do anything about it? and then after the police knew where he was but couldnt do anything, he went and raped and killed some guys daughter. (and now that guy is like doing something, i dunno, i didnt really follow that up very much.) i think that we at least need to get rid of that "shelter" state crap.

[AkiraMakie]

I can kinda see how they could be considered racist. There's a border to the north where it would be very easy for someone to march right across the border. Yet every time people talk about illegal immigrants, it's Mexico, the Mexican Border. If I was going to try to smuggle something or someone dangerous in this country, I'd go though Canada, because nobody seems worried about the porousness of the Canadian Border. Nobody ever suggests that troops be put on the Canadian Border. If this were truely just about illegals, then why not put minutemen on *both* borders?

I can give you a reason. They dont care if Canadians cross over to the america side because:

A: canadians for the most part dont want to even stay here.
B: They dont have to go through the bull that Mexicans, and Dominicans, and hatians, etc, have to go through to get a green card. Besides, most canadians if they want to stay go about it the right way anyway.

I dont see wahts the big deal with illegal immagrants anyway. i mean, this is supposed to be the land of opportunity. why not let them in.

[The Captain]

I have heard of this story and one of my main concerns is that I don't see why they are carrying shotguns while doing this. Are they planning on shooting these people should they find them?

Part of the problem is that we like to think that we're the greatest country ever in the existence of history and yet, we don't seem to understand that if people from other countries share this view (Which I'm not sure they should), they'll want to get here any which way they can get.

There is no easy solution or answer to these troubles, but I don't think people watching the borders with shotguns helps matters very much.

Take care all.

[Sasquatch]

They're not shooting these people, but who would you be more likely to listen to, a couple guys standing around watching you, or a couple guys standing around watching you with shotguns? They might give warning shots or something, but I highly doubt they're authorized to fire upon the border-runners. And if they did, I'm sure they would be dealt with appropriately. It's already been shown that there's a drop in it since these Minutemen got out there, so obviously it does help.

Again, very few people have problems with legal immigration. I would even encourage it--I'd love to hear a story about how somebody came over from some third-world country and made a better life in America. But legally.

[CloudSquallandZidane]

I like this idea because Immagration, isnt doing their job by keeping the borders safe. or preventing those who illegitatmently try to gain access to this country from succeeding. Seriously letting them stay here is a slap in the face to all those who went through the proper channels and possibly waited years to get in.

That said... I can see how this could suffer abuse from those who volunteer to carry it out.

Now turn on ur recorders and take a screen shot ladies and gentlemen, because im going to do something i have never done before: I am calling out the Hispanic Leaders opposed to this idea and who say these people are racist, on playing the race card. Ive never done it before, but seriously cant these people be genuinely concerned about the safety of their borders, jobs, and overall country.

I'd go though Canada, because nobody seems worried about the porousness of the Canadian Border. Nobody ever suggests that troops be put on the Canadian Border. If this were truely just about illegals, then why not put minutemen on *both* borders?

Well to be put bluntly, there arent millions of Canadian illegals pouring over to our country.

Are they planning on shooting these people should they find them?

A genuwine concern i shared when i first heard that part. But it was explained to me like this, smugglers also cross the border, and they dont even care if the people they are moving live or die, and probably have weapons. So i think its more for self-preservation, than shooting border crossers. Plus i imagine if they did shoot somebody, there would be hell to pay, from both governments.

[DMKA]

I support illegal immigration, because I don't think there should be such a thing, and therefore hate these guys.