Minuteman National Blog

Minuteman Chigago leader Rosanna Pulido was on hand with Carmen Mercer, Peter Gadiel and others to counter in the news reports the onslaught from the Latino community in support of illegal immigration.

A report from the Associated Press:

''A people united'' for immigrants

• 100,000 march in Chicago: Support immigration rights

By Karen Hawkins
The Associated Press

CHICAGO — Mario Leguizamo''s sign wasn''t the largest at a march for immigrant rights that drew tens of thousands and brought downtown traffic to a virtual standstill for hours. But it certainly was one of the most eye-catching.

Leguizamo''s hand-lettered sign reading "Cheney Shoots Friends but We''re Criminals?" drew amused double-takes from many who marched past it on their way to a political rally with all the festivity of a good old-fashioned Chicago parade.

Students like Leguizamo and housewives pushing strollers marched side by side with construction workers, mechanics and senior citizens. Some marchers called out the names of their neighborhoods or suburbs, while others took up enthusiastic chants like "Si, se puede (Yes, it can be done)" and "La raza unida nunca sera vencida (A people united will never be defeated)."

Chicago police estimated that more than 100,000 marchers came from all over the Chicago area, many carrying — or wearing — Mexican and American flags. The protest was spirited, but peaceful, and there were no reported arrests or incidents.

Marchers gathered on the plaza across from the Dirksen Federal Courthouse to listen to speeches voicing support for pro-immigrant legislation and opposition to a measure that would toughen penalties for illegal immigrants.

"Raise those American flags!" shouted U.S. Rep Luis Gutierrez, D-Chicago. "This is our country, and this is where we will stay."

~SNIP~

Minutemen speak out

The Illinois Minuteman Project, which is affiliated with a national volunteer civilian border patrol group that aims to stem illegal immigration, held a news conference before the march began to speak out against it.

Rosanna Pulido, the group''s state director, said she doesn''t want to see Chicago become "sanctuary city" for illegal immigrants.

"There are 14 million underemployed Americans. Don''t they have the right to have a better life and support their families? Let''s give them an opportunity because this is their country," she said.

The march began at noon at a park several miles west of the downtown Loop business district. Hours later, marchers still thronged to the area, clogging streets and preventing vehicle traffic from moving. Police said traffic had returned to near-normal levels by early evening.

Abel Nunez, associate director of a social service agency that was one of the many organizations spearheading the event, said the goal was "to demonstrate to people that immigrants are here and we contribute to this country."

"We''re not here to make this country less safe, we''re here to strengthen it," he added.

One worker said he hadn''t seen so many people in the Loop since a ticker-tape parade following the Chicago White Sox''s World Series victory last fall.

"In terms of a protest, I''ve never seen anything this big. I''m impressed by the magnitude," of the crowd, said Tom Bonk.

But one person who wasn''t impressed was Pulido, who said the demonstrators essentially were promoting illegal immigration.

"What it means is that 75,000 people marched for lawlessness in Chicago," she said.

To read the entire article, click on the title link! There is also a photo slide show at the link.

This just in via email:

A Minutewoman''s ride along with the Border Patrol

As a registered Minutewoman with the AZ MCDC, I was excited to set up a ride along with the California Border Patrol this past weekend. I drove from Phoenix, Arizona to Southern California on Sunday, March 5, 2006. I arrived at the Border Patrol Station, signed the waiver and was escorted to the holding cells to witness a recently caught alleged "murderer" standing in a cell, along with a drug smuggler and an alien trafficker.

As my eyes scanned the other cells and once again returned to that cell, I noticed, with dissapointment and a bit of surprise, that the alleged "murderer" was smiling at me. As I exited the building, along with the Border Patrol agent, I remarked about the man smiling. The agent replied that they (the criminals) often smile and even laugh when captured and processed. He further declared that many of the illegals and criminals they catch are laughing and smiling all the way to the cell. He said that some of them act like the system is a joke.

The Border Patrol agents have the unfortunate experience of seeing several of the criminals twice or even several times over again. The agent I was riding along with informed that in several cases they recapture the same individuals. In a later conversation with a retired Border Patrol agent, she informed me, as well, that when she was on patrol years ago, she would catch a man in the morning, deport him back to Mexico, only to recapture him in the afternoon and again sometimes again that evening.

On my ride along, I witnessed the limited number of agents on duty that night as well as the limited number in the field. I was amazed to see the many unused Border Patrol trucks, jeeps and cars not being used that stood useless in the parking lot. When I commented on this to the agent, he replied that there are always more vehicles than agents on any particular shift.

It became more apparent than ever on the Sunday ride along and the Monday night ride along that they are very short staffed. THIS SHOULD CONCERN US ALL, since the California Border Patrol deals with the tracking of and capture and deportation of many drug traffickers as well as gang members.

On Sunday night, as I was riding in the truck with the agent, we happened to come across several California minutemen as well as other individuals who are members of various groups that monitor our borders. The agent said that he appreciates the Minutemen and the other groups that monitor the borders, because they are addition eyes for the Border Patrol. IN FACT, AS WE DROVE UP TO THEM, THE AGENT WHO WAS GUARDING THAT PORTION OF THE BORDER DROVE AWAY TO ASSIST WITH A MISSION, THUS LEAVING that portion of the border unguarded, with the exception of the Minutemen who were in that area monitoring the border.

I met a San Diego Minuteman that night, who informed me of communities in the San Diego area that have what could only be explained as camps of illegals (day laborers) living in tents and hut like things. He described it as a Tent city. The horrific fact is that the smugglers have been bringing young girls, as young as 12 years old over to be the sex slaves of the day laborers. I was told that a group went in during the day to videotape the conditions and were horrified at the conditions in which the people were living. I was also told that there is a group whose purpose it is to rescue the young women from these tent cities.

A second man told me that there are a few in the the San Diego, LA areas of California and that the proper authorities are not doing anything about them.

"Why not?" I asked.

FEAR! Why are we concerned citizens, especially in the border states, so lazy as to NOT say anything about these conditions or events? And more importantly, why aren''t the proper authorities doing something about this????

The first night, I rode with an agent in a truck that had a night vision camera. He showed me how they use this system to locate and track the illegals as they cross the border. They work with this system to then instruct the field agents to the illegals and it assists them in the capture of the illegals. Not to meantion of course those that they incarcerate and we taxpayers pay for their housing, food and healthcare!

The second night, Monday, March I witnessed, from the safety of the Border Patrol truck, the persuit and capture of 4 illegals. The agent in the truck was using another night vision tracking camera (on the top of the truck) while he instructed the foot patrol agents to the location of the illegals.

We monitored their movements on the screen and I was so "anxious", myself in the challenges of the agents (not only the one in the truck, but those on foot), because of the equipment they are using. The radios weren''t working up to par and the screen was smaller in this truck then the truck last night.

It gave me such insight to see the conditions in which the Border Patrol work as well as to see the California border that our Minutemen and other groups monitor. It was pointed out to me, various spots that are hot spots for Marijuana bags being thrown over the border fence. In one spot, the agent showed me, he said with great emotion, that was where one of their agents was shot and killed in a drug trafficking operation.

See, the criminals are not dumb. They have intelligence operations as well as we do. The Border patrol have set up sensors in various spots to detect activity. Well, the criminals will send someone across the border, to set off a sensor (when they find out where the sensors are.) and will then wait to see if any agents show up. If no agents show up, then the others will cross over the border and continue on their mission. If no one shows up, it is usually because there are no available agents in that area. This is why we need to lobby our government to hire more Border Patrol Agents, as well as why we NEED the Minutemen and other groups to monitor and assist our Border Patrol agents.

Many vehicles are simply waiting on the United States side for the criminals to jump in to and speed away. Of course because there are not enough agents in the field to monitor all the abandoned vehicles, they could sit there for days until the coyote or drug trafficker crosses the border from Mexico with the keys.

The second night, I drove my personal truck up to the border and was parked, monitoring for three hours prior to my ride along. I was pleased when finally after about two hours, a Border Patrol Agent pulled up to me and inquired as to if I was a new Minuteman on duty. :-)

The sad thing about this is that I witnessed a Border Patrol Jeep on the road to my right drive slowly within view of me and well as another truck, both of which never approached me to inquire of my indentity. By the way, my truck is a SUV with tinted windows, a Harley Davidson front license plate and may give the appearance of a drug truck in any given major city. However if you view the back of my truck, which was facing the border fence, it of course has AZ plates, and a few political bumper stickers, which would give me away as an American patriot.

But then again, it was discussed with me, at a recent rally, that really, appearances are just that - appearances. That person said that I could be an American or an illegal, because many illegals come in various shades and ethnicities. Let''s keep that in mind as we monitor our borders, not all of those crossing are Mexicans. Many other ethnicities use the Mexico/USA border to cross. Who is to say that an illegal may or may not have car-jacked my truck to use to haul drugs or people in (since it was sitting on the border.)

During those three hours, while sitting in my truck, unarmed, I began to monitor the border with my video camera and realize that I was right in a corridor that is popular for drug trafficking. The sad thing was that my cell phone didn''t work in that area and I realized that if indeed I would have witnessed the illegal entry of someone, all that I could do would be drive fast in my truck to the Border Patrol Station to report my sighting! Ugh! What frustration for an enthusiastic Minutewoman!

Well, I am increasingly concerned with the condition of our Border Patrol agencies in the border states and encourage all concerned citizens who read this to take action. Place phone calls, send emails and lobby your local governments to "Secure our Borders!" Hire more agents and get our National Guard down to the border to assist in securing our nation!

I spoke with a clergyman today regarding my involvement with the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps and asked his view on the border issues and the Minutemen. He said that he is not against them and that is is indeed a sad day that they are necessary, because our federal government is not doing it''s job to secure our borders. He further stated that it will be a media frenzy if and when a Minuteman has to shoot an illegal in self defense. That day seems to be nearer, since the "other side", the criminals are getting more anxious because of our constant presence in certain areas on the border.

Please thank our law officers, military personell and Border Patrol Agents for their service unto America, it encourages them and they need to hear it.

This I know for sure, by the gratitute and moments of obvious emotion, whenever I thank our vets and police officers and Border Patrol agents for their job well done!

Keep up the good work all Minutemen and concerned citizens, you are all American patriots in my eyes.

Be sure to encouarge others to sign up as Minutemen!

Phyllis Gross

ANNOUNCING NEW YORK BORDER OPERATION STARTING SATURDAY, APRIL 1

The New York Minutemen are announcing their Northern Border Operation starting Saturday, April 1st. In October we had participants from 3 northern states. Lets break that number! Both the Border Patrol and the NY State Police have confirmed to the NY Minutemen that the situation at the northern border is worse then what is being reported. We need the help of some dedicated Minutemen from across the country. Length of this operation will be determined by participation.

Thank You,
Pete Lanteri
NY Minutemen
rzrblade@optonline.net

This just in via email from Peter Gadiel of 9/11 Families for a Secure America who lost his son, Jason Gadiel, on 9/11 in the north tower of the World Trade Center, 103rd floor:

JOHN McCAIN SCREAMS AT 9/11 FSA MEMBERS FOR OPPOSING HIS BILL TO GIVE AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS

McCAIN CHALLENGES PETER GADIEL TO DEBATE HIM IN ARIZONA - GADIEL ACCEPTS CHALLENGE

Sen. Lindsay Graham admits that cheap labor, especially the cheap greens fees at golf courses, are more important than enforcing the law.

9/11 FSA members Joan Molinaro, Bruce De Cell, Grace Godshalk and Peter Gadiel lobbied the Senate during the week of February 27 to March 3. Part of the time we were accompanied by Bill Buchanan, Bob Shoemaker, Helen Pfalsgraf and Rick Rio of Virginia’s very effective immigration reform group, ANCIR. Our purpose was to oppose bills that would reward illegal aliens by granting them amnesty and the right to become citizens of the United States.

The worst amnesty bills are S. 1033 sponsored by Sens. McCain and Kennedy, and the as yet unnumbered bill sponsored by Sen. Arlen Specter.

We had a lengthy appointment with one Senator and met briefly with a second. In addition, we had meetings with staff members representing twelve other Senators.

We were able to attend a portion of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s discussion of illegal immigration in the “markup” session of Thursday March 2. During this meeting Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) disgraced himself by showing contempt for of all those who have been killed or injured by illegal aliens. Graham said he plays golf, that most of the courses he plays on use illegal alien labor, and that he, like many other Americans is happy to benefit from that cheap labor. Joan, Bruce and I were appalled that a United States Senator would admit that he thinks lower greens fees are more important than the lives of those he claims to represent. During the hearing, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis) issued a press release endorsing the McCain-Kennedy amnesty.

The 9/11 FSA position is this: if an amnesty passes, among the 11,000,000 to 20,000,000 recipients of amnesty there will inevitably be violent felons and terrorists. (For example, one of the participants in the 1993 WTC bombing had received amnesty in 1986. Other recipients of the ‘86 amnesty have been involved in crimes such as the killings outside CIA headquarters.) We told the staffs of Feingold, Graham and other amnesty supporters that if an amnesty bill is passed, when violent criminal or terrorist acts are committed by those receiving amnesty, 9/11 FSA will make sure that the people in their states know that Graham, Feingold, et al, made those crimes possible by allowing the perpetrators to stay in the USA.

This blunt approach has been made necessary by the failure of many members of the Senate to overcome their reliance on contributions made by the members of the US Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers and other employers of illegals; their failure to ignore the expensive lobbying campaigns of LaRaza, the ACLU, the United Methodist Church, George Soros, and so on.

ENCOUNTER WITH JOHN McCAIN

At the end of a week of lobbying, we accidentally met Sen. John McCain just outside the Russell Senate Office Building. Joan, Bruce and I approached him identified ourselves as 9/11 family members. We told him we opposed his amnesty bill and of our promise to hold accountable members of Congress who vote for it for the acts of violence that result. The following conversation resulted.

McCain looked at Joan and said: “You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

Joan Molinaro: “No, we’re not kidding.”

At this, McCain started screaming and pointed his finger in our faces: “After all I’ve done for you people! I welcome you to come to my state. I’ll debate the issue with you. The people of Arizona trust me…I got 77% of the vote last year. Who do you think they’ll believe?”

Peter Gadiel: “Yeah sure. You won that race by getting 85% of your money from out of state.”

McCain: “It’s people like you who make my job so hard. I got 77% of the vote...

Gadiel: Oh sure, but you needed 85% of your money from outside the state. What kind of confidence is that?

By this time, Joan and Peter were turning their backs to McCain, and he started to come after them. But Bruce saw a guard from the Russell Building came out, take McCain by the arm and pull him inside the building.

9/11 FSA accepts Senator McCain’s challenge to debate him on the issue of illegal immigration.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

LOCAL AND NATIONAL MINUTEMAN LEADERS TO RESPOND TO PRO-ILLEGAL ALIENS RALLY IN CHICAGO FRIDAY

When: 10 a.m. Friday, March 10, 2006
Where: Grant Park, directly across the street from the
Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago

Who: Rosanna Pulido, State Director, Illinois Minuteman Project
Carmen Mercer, National Recruitment Director, Minuteman Civil Defense Corps
Peter Gadiel, President, 9/11 Families for a Secure America
Sandra Gunn, Government Relations, FAIR

(CHICAGO, IL) March 9, 2006 – The Illinois Minuteman Project will hold a media availability on Friday, March 10, 2006, at 10 a.m. in Grant Park to speak in favor of H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Act, and in opposition to the radical political agenda of the pro-illegal aliens rally being held in Chicago the same day to demand amnesty and open borders.

Minuteman leaders Rosanna Pulido, of Mexican ancestry, and Carmen Mercer, a naturalized American citizen from Germany, will be joined by Peter Gadiel, whose 23-year-old son, Jason Gadiel, was killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City (North Tower, 103rd floor,) and Sandra Gunn, Government Relations, FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform)

Ms. Mercer is also a leader of the Granny Brigade, a group of grandmothers who stand watch on the Arizona border, reporting illegal border crossings to the authorities.

The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps stands for securing America’s borders and the enforcement of our immigration laws. The group has over 120,000 members and supporters nationwide and 45 chapters in 24 states.

This April, MCDC will conduct a month long “Secure Our Borders” operation nationwide. 6,500 MCDC volunteers who have cleared background checks and interviews will man over 800 miles of the northern and southern borders, observing and reporting violations of our territorial integrity to authorities.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ARIZONA RALLY TO KICK OFF MONTH LONG ‘SECURE OUR BORDERS’ NATIONWIDE CIVILIAN BORDER WATCH

(PHOENIX, AZ) March 9, 2006 – Chris Simcox, President of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (“MCDC”), today announced a rally to be held in Pima County, Arizona on Saturday, April 1, 2006, to kick off MCDC’s month long “Secure Our Borders” civilian border watch operations. The Minutemen will be manning approximately 800 miles of the northern and southern borders next month in an effort to aid authorities in monitoring violations of the territorial integrity of the United States.

Politicians and patriots are being invited to attend the rally, which will be held in Altar Valley in Pima County, Arizona.

Confirmed speakers include: Sheriff Larry Dever, Cochise County AZ; Randy Graf, Graf for Congress; Don Goldwater, DG for Governor; Russell Pearce, Arizona State Rep. Dist. 18; Bay Buchanan; Charles Heller, Liberty Talk Radio and Chris Simcox, President, MCDC.

MCDC recently challenged all 100 U.S. Senators to accompany the Minutemen on the border watch observations to gain firsthand knowledge before voting on the various measures on border security and immigration reform currently before the Senate.

Jim Gilchrist and representatives of FAIR, Numbers USA, ALIPAC and CIS are invited as guests to participate in the rally and observe the “Secure Our Borders” operations.

With over 6,500 MCDC volunteers who have passed our background checks, safety training and interviews, the Minutemen are rapidly approaching the numerical strength of the Border Patrol itself.

When: 12 noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 1, 2006.
Where: Altar Valley, Pima County, Arizona.

Directions: From Phoenix take I-10 south to Tucson, in Tucson take I-19 south approximately 1 mile to Ajo Way (Ajo Highway) Rte. 86. Take Rte. 86 west approximately 23 miles to Three Points (Robles Junction). When in Three Points, take Rte. 286 South to mile marker 31. At approximately 31 ½, there will be a ranch home on the east side of the road—that is the base camp of operations for MCDC AZ. If parking is full, please park across Rte. 286 on the west side of the road.

Contact Info: Stacey O''Connell azcactus@aol.com

Following the rally, border watch operations will commence at 4 p.m. and continue day and night through April 30th.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

DR. MICHAEL VICKERS NAMED TEXAS STATE DIRECTOR OF MINUTEMAN CIVIL DEFENSE CORPS

(PHOENIX, AZ) March 9, 2006 – Al Garza, National Executive Director of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (“MCDC”), today announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Vickers as Texas State Director for the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.

Dr. Vickers, a veterinarian and ranch owner in Falfurrias, Texas, has seen firsthand the consequences of our unsecured borders. He estimates that last year, in nightly trespasses traversing his and his neighbor’s private land, an average of 1000 illegal aliens per day damaged fencing and other property, dispersed livestock and strew trash—as they made their way north after violating the U.S. national line. His ranch lies about 70 miles north of the Mexican border along Highway 281, a major route used by illegal aliens and drug smugglers.

As Texas State Director, Dr. Vickers will be responsible for recruiting fellow Texans, enforcing the MCDC standard operating procedures and overseeing the operations of local Texas MCDC chapters.

Dr. Vickers is bi-lingual. He is fluent in Spanish and English and is fond of Mexican culture. He is a native Texan, born and raised in the town of Sinton.

Dr. Vickers is a 1972 graduate of Texas A&M at College Station. His veterinary practice led him to discover what became known as the Ames strain of anthrax in 1981. He also specializes in treating animals bitten by poisonous snakes. The bulk of his practice is ranch practice, treating livestock in a 10 county area of South Texas.

Last October, Dr. Vickers’ ranch served as the headquarters for the Texas part of MCDC’s month-long ‘Secure Our Borders’ operation.

Dr. Vickers will lead a similar month-long effort in Texas this April.

In a statement, Garza congratulated Dr. Vickers on his appointment, “The Texas Minuteman Civil Defense Corps chapter is in great hands with Dr. Mike Vickers at the helm. With all the mixed signals coming from Washington, this year will see an influx of illegal border crossers seeking to take advantage of proposed guest worker amnesty programs. I have every confidence that Mike will do us all proud as he leads the effort in Texas to get the federal government to secure our borders.”

New York Senator Hillary! Clinton has finally taken a public stand on illegal immigration, which likely indicates where the Democratic Party will go on this issue.

Sen. Clinton slams GOP immigration bill

WASHINGTON --Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a potential White House candidate in 2008, said Wednesday some Republicans are trying to create a "police state" to round up illegal immigrants.

Clinton, D-N.Y., spoke out on the U.S. immigration policy after largely staying away from an issue that has roiled Congress in recent months and spurred a number of conflicting proposals.

Speaking at a rally of Irish immigrants, Clinton criticized a bill the House passed in December that would impose harsher penalties for undocumented workers.

"Don''t turn your backs on what made this country great," she said, calling the measure "a rebuke to what America stands for."

The House measure would make unlawful presence in the United States, which is currently a civil offense, a felony.

Clinton said it would be "an unworkable scheme to try to deport 11 million people, which you have to have a police state to try to do."

She called instead for immigration changes "based on strengthening our borders in order to make us safer from the threat of terrorism."

The senator also sent a four-page public letter to constituents outlining her views on immigration. In the letter, she shied away from specifics but said she does support allowing at least some of the estimated 11 million undocumented workers to earn citizenship.

~SNIP~

To read the entire article, click on the title link!

It appears Governor Janet Napolitano''s executive order to send National Guard troops to the border was indeed a political ploy. The Guard troops would be in a support role doing such things as maintaining vehicles and fixing computers.

The Arizona Republic has a somewhat balanced article this morning on the political wrangling, as international criminal cartels remain in operational control of our southern border:

Arizona leaders spar over Guard
Power to send troops to border is at issue

Chip Scutari and Matthew Benson
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 9, 2006 12:00 AM

Gov. Janet Napolitano and state Republican leaders clashed Wednesday over plans to send National Guard troops to the border, offering proposals that both sides concede are unlikely to fix the state''s illegal-immigration problem.

Critics questioned the maneuvering, saying it reduced one of the most crucial issues facing Arizona to pure politics.

Early Wednesday, the governor issued an executive order to send Guard troops to the border to help with vehicle inspections and otherwise support the U.S. Border Patrol as soon as money becomes available. She did not specify how many troops would go or how much it would cost.

The Legislature then signed off on a different plan requiring the Guard to be stationed at the border at a cost to the state of $10 million, enough to pay for 100 soldiers for 311 days.

The governor called the measure unconstitutional because it usurps her authority to command the National Guard. "There is one commander in chief, not 90," she said.

~SNIP~

A report prepared for a congressional subcommittee last year concluded that 36,000 Guard troops would be necessary to stem illegal immigration along the nation''s 1,950-mile Mexican border.

That breaks down to roughly six troops per mile, rotating multiple shifts, with numbers varying depending on existing Border Patrol presence and other factors.

Political stakes

Besides the border implications, there is real political ground at stake with the general election looming in November.

A statewide Arizona Republic poll of 602 registered voters in December indicated that illegal immigration is considered the most important issue in Arizona this year. More than nine in 10 respondents said a candidate''s approach to illegal immigration would be at least somewhat important when it comes to deciding their vote for governor.

The Republican who sponsored the $10 million National Guard bill acknowledged its shortcomings in light of the difficulties of patrolling the border but said any funding for additional border patrols would help.

~SNIP~

''Not at war''

"We need full-time border patrol," Napolitano said. "(Guardsmen) are there to provide support to civilian law enforcement at the border.

"They are not there to militarize the border. We are not at war with Mexico."

Napolitano''s executive order spells out what duties the Guard can do at the border, including:

• Helping Arizona Department of Public Safety officers check cars going from Arizona to Mexico.

• Assisting with cargo and vehicles inspections at border crossing points.

• Helping out local law enforcement agencies in the border counties.

Republicans and other critics preferred that the plan go further by having troops take a more active role in patrolling and apprehending border crossers.

"I think all it will amount to is just a political ploy so (Napolitano) can say that she sent National Guard to the border," said David Stoddard, a retired Border Patrol agent who lives in the southern Arizona town of Hereford.

~SNIP~

To read the entire article, click on the title link!

Amusing reading...

WASHINGTON - If the 24 counties along the nation''s Southwest border were a 51st state, it would rank first in federal crimes, second in tuberculosis and near the bottom in education, per capita income and access to health care.

Members of the U.S./Mexico Border Counties Coalition released a report including those estimates Wednesday as senators began to grapple with proposals for overhauling the nation''s immigration system.

The 246-page study by researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso examines the social, public health, criminal and environmental challenges facing the immigration-stressed region, which includes the sprawling urban communities of San Diego and El Paso and the desert and ranch country of Arizona and New Mexico.

--snip--

The study found the region ranks last in access to health care compared with the rest of the states and 50th in number of residents with insurance. Yet the prevalence of people with tuberculosis is twice that of United States as a whole. Residents also have high rates of AIDS, hepatitis and adult diabetes.

I want my own copy of this study...

Breaking news: Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano has signed an executive order today to put more National Guard troops on the Arizona border with Mexico. But the devil is in the details. She will veto the bill from the legislature requring more troops... and doesn''t say how many or when. Looks like more playing politics on its face. You decide!

March 8, 2006

Governor to send troops to border to help in immigration efforts
The Associated Press

PHOENIX - Gov. Janet Napolitano said Wednesday that she signed an executive order to expand the Arizona National Guard''s presence at the state''s porous border with Mexico to support federal efforts to combat illegal immigration and other border problems.

The governor also said she would veto a bill in the Legislature requiring her to send troops to the border, but wants lawmakers to pass a proposal to pay for the expanded National Guard role.

She said the Legislature''s pending bill requiring additional deployment as a result of her declaration last summer of an immigration emergency in four border counties appeared to be an attempt by critics to score political points at her expense.

She referred questions about the number of troops and costs to the National Guard and declined to elaborate on the mission the troops would perform.

She said that was spelled out in the order, which wasn''t immediately available.

Napolitano stressed that the National Guard''s role would be limited to supporting the federal efforts.

"They are not there to militarize the border," she said. "We are not at war at Mexico," she said.

Okay, before you get too excited he''s also calling for amnesty. But, and this is a big but, it is a milestone in our fight to secure the borders. There is little doubt that without the ruckus raised by the Minutemen we''d not be nearly as far along in the political debate.

We''ve brought them this far to our side, let''s keep tugging until they''re standing with us.

An excerpt:

Build a Fence -- And Amnesty

By Robert J. Samuelson
Wednesday, March 8, 2006; A19

It''s time to build a real fence or a wall along every foot of the 1,989 miles of the U.S.-Mexican border. There can be only two arguments against this approach to keeping out illegal immigrants: (1) it won''t work -- possible, but we won''t know unless we try; or (2) we don''t want it to work -- then, we should say so and open our borders to anyone but criminals and terrorists. Either way, we need more candor in our immigration debates. Now is the time, because Congress is considering its first major immigration legislation in years.

In 2005 the Border Patrol stopped 1.19 million people trying to enter the United States illegally; 98.5 percent of them were caught along the southern border. Of those who got through and stayed (crude estimate: some 500,000 annually), about two-thirds lack a high school education. Even a country as accepting of newcomers as the United States cannot effortlessly absorb infinite numbers of poor and unskilled workers. Legal immigration totals 750,000 to 1 million people annually, many of them also unskilled.

I do not like advocating a fence. It looks and feels bad. It''s easily stigmatized as racist. It would antagonize Mexico. The imagery is appalling, but it beats the alternative: a growing underclass and social tensions. Moreover, a genuine fence would probably work. The construction of about 10 miles of steel and concrete barriers up to 15 feet high in San Diego has reduced illegal crossings in that sector by about 95 percent since 1992, reports Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), a supporter of a U.S.-Mexico fence. Sure, there will be tunnels and ladders. But getting in will be harder. Policing will be easier.

SNIP

There''s a paradox. To make immigration succeed, we need to curb some immigration. That''s why it''s vital to control our border. It also explains why it''s important not to "solve" that problem merely by legalizing these huge inflows. Unfortunately, the legislation being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee would do precisely that. Among other things, it would create a virtually open-ended guest worker program.

If we control new inflows, we should legalize the illegal immigrants already here. Many have American-born children, who are U.S. citizens. It is not desirable or ethical to force most illegal immigrants to leave. Yes, they broke the law, but we were complicit by making the law so easy to break. Their present shadowy status deprives them of rights and exposes them to exploitation. We should want the melting pot to work -- and fear that it might come to a boil.

Click the title link to read the rest of the srticle, including his economic arguments.

The violence continues in the Nuevo Laredo/Laredo area as international criminal cartels battle over lucrative smuggling routes into the United States.

Four police dead in shootout in Mexico border city
07 Mar 2006 19:12:47 GMT

Source: Reuters

NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico, March 7 (Reuters) - Suspected drug hit men on Tuesday killed four policemen in a shootout in this crime-ridden Mexican city on the U.S. border, police and witnesses said.

One of the dead was the second-in-charge of a state police force sent to Nuevo Laredo last year by President Vicente Fox''s government to help end a drug feud, the sources said.

The killings took place in broad daylight on a busy highway leading to the airport in Nuevo Laredo, across the Rio Grande from Laredo, Texas.

The policemen and their attackers fought for 15 minutes in a shootout that spilled over into an auto dealership and left bodies strewn on the ground.

"There are a bunch of people wounded," a witness said.

More than 40 people have been killed in Nuevo Laredo this year in a struggle over smuggling routes between the local Gulf cartel and an alliance of drug traffickers from the western state of Sinaloa.

Anthony Ford mentioned on another post that he had pictures from the protest at McCain''s office, where the American flag was being dragged on the ground by the pro-illegal immigration crowd. We''ve gotten these pictures from Anthony, with his commentary below.

From Anthony via email:

Yep, they were so concerned with coordinating doing the "wave" that they forgot they weren''t supposed to drag that American flag, that they professed to love, around on the ground. Here are a couple of photos; use them with my compliments. The main offender was a young lady with a bullhorn who started out the opposition''s rally by apparently coordinating things. She''s the one grinding the flag into the sidewalk.

Homeland Security issued the following press release a few days ago:

Brownsville, Texas - In accordance with the Security and Prosperity Partnership, the Secretary of Governance of Mexico, Carlos Abascal, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff met in Brownsville, Texas, to sign an Action Plan to combat border violence and improve public safety. The commitment between the two nations will strengthen procedures between federal law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border to respond to different scenarios ranging from accidental crossings to incidents of violence, or other situations that present risks to those who live, work, or travel at our common border.

“Criminal networks operating at the border are increasingly emboldened and represent alarming risks to our security and public safety. Their lawlessness is intolerable, and together we will confront them with the full force of the law,” said Secretary Chertoff. “We are pledging swift and aggressive action to combat violent criminal activity at the border, and we''ll continue to share critical information to target and dismantle these dangerous criminal networks.”

“Being good neighbors starts at the border. With these agreements on border security and public safety we strengthen our bridges of understanding and cooperation.” said Secretary Abascal. “We are committed to protecting all persons who live, work or transit the border region against crime and violence, regardless of their migratory status. We sincerely appreciate the commitment of Secretary Chertoff and the Department of Homeland Security to work together in this direction. We are aware that facing violence and crime, there are no magic overnight solutions, but we are convinced that binational systematic efforts are the best we can do to have better results.”

To help prevent violent incidents, Secretary Abascal, Secretary Chertoff and Eduardo Medina-Mora, Mexican Secretary of Public Safety, have endorsed a multi-step plan for bi-national coordination during emergency situations. The plan lays out a commitment to ensure immediate communications and information sharing between responsible authorities during emergency situations that may have cross border implications. The Action Plan also lays the groundwork for ensuring coordinated investigations and detentions of persons believed to be involved in violent activity along the border.

In addition, both nations will continue to coordinate border security efforts such as patrolling the border region, conducting regular exercises to ensure updated and consistent protocols and identifying common landmarks so that first responders can quickly arrive at the scene.

Aside from the Action Plan mentioned, DHS continues to partner with the Government of Mexico in information sharing and coordinated law enforcement efforts such as Operation Blackjack, to fight violent cross-border crime in Laredo, Texas, OASISS to reduce the increasing number of human smugglers operating along the southwest border and cooperative efforts to uncover cross-border tunnels along the U.S.-Mexico border in California and Arizona.

###

The Action Plan!

Action Plan Between the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America and the Secretariat of Governance of the United Mexican States to Combat Border Violence and Improve Public Safety

With a vision of shared responsibility, the Governments of the United States and Mexico reiterate our commitment to address the challenges we face at our border to prevent incidents that threaten the lives and physical safety of citizens of both nations.

The Presidents of Mexico and the United States have pledged our respective Governments to a new vision of our shared border and our larger North American community. This spirit of cooperation is affirmed in the Security and Prosperity Partnership for North America, announced on March 23, 2005, by the Presidents of Mexico and the United States and the Prime Minister of Canada.

With respect for the sovereign right of each nation to formulate and enforce its own laws, the Secretary of Governance of Mexico and the Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States are committed to an aggressive approach based on the fundamental principle that preserving law and order along our border is a shared responsibility that requires mutual commitment and the highest possible level of cooperation between the law enforcement officials of each country.

Both governments recognize the value of the Border Liaison Mechanisms (BLMs) as appropriate local forums to discuss and address the challenges we face along our border.

No criminal should be allowed to exploit the dividing line between our nations and our law enforcement jurisdictions to escape justice or to prey upon our honest citizens. No one, regardless of their immigration status, should be subjected to criminal violence. Our Governments seek a transformed relationship to prevent incidents of violence and to investigate vigorously any incidents that do occur.

In order to achieve these goals, both governments are committed to coordinating and strengthening procedures between Federal law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border to respond to different scenarios that present risks to those who live, work, or travel at our common border.

To help prevent such incidents, our Governments endorse the following cooperative steps:

I. Stopping Border Violence and Crime

The Secretaries of Governance and Homeland Security should work to coordinate with other interested Federal agencies of their respective governments to ensure an effective response to incidents of cross-border violence and crime.

A Border Security and Public Safety Working Group, led by the Secretariat of Governance and Department of Homeland Security but including other relevant agencies, is to be established. This operational group is to work within the Border Liaison Mechanism (BLM) structure to facilitate coordination and operational requirements and should coordinate with each BLM, to include the Consuls General or Principal Consuls at the U.S. and Mexican Consulates located on the Border. This working group should carry out the following tasks.

Establish detailed operational protocols expanding upon the pilot programs established in Arizona/Sonora and Laredo/Nuevo Laredo to facilitate immediate communication between first responders when incidents of border violence or crime, or unauthorized crossings by government personnel, arise.

Establish written operational protocols, which will be reviewed as required but at least every six months, for Federal law enforcement response on both sides of the border.

Establish, as necessary and appropriate, mechanisms and procedures to ensure immediate apprehension and detention of persons suspected of border violence or crime, and preservation of evidence on our respective sides of the border.

Ensure, where appropriate, bilateral coordination of investigations and follow-up actions with all relevant Federal agencies.

The participating agencies should conduct regular exercises to ensure coordination protocols are updated and consistent with law enforcement procedures and regulations on both sides of the border.

II. Preventive Actions

In addition to the procedures regarding incidents of border violence and crime mentioned above, both nations undertake to do the following:

Promote appropriate patrolling of the border region as necessary, ensuring key information is shared with the other party as necessary and permissible. Confidentiality of this information is to be protected as appropriate or as governed by other agreements.
a) On behalf of Mexico, the Federal Preventive Police and the Beta Groups, or other entities as relevant, may be designated to participate in this effort along the land border.
b) On behalf of the United States, Customs and Border Protection is charged with managing, controlling and securing the border at and between U.S. Ports of Entry.

Ensure that each nation has a common understanding of binational landmarks or other border markers known to both sides, such that first responders may quickly arrive on scene.

Establish the appropriate mechanisms for exchange of information to prevent and fight border violence.

Both governments are to take adequate actions to ensure information from the incident is accurate and timely.

III. High level contacts

In addition to the operational mechanisms discussed above, both governments plan to designate a high level point of contact to receive periodic updates from the mechanisms defined in this Action Plan.
These high level points of contact should be immediately informed by the Border Security and Public Safety Working Group leading officials when an incident of high significance happens, in order to ensure the appropriate response to and follow up of such an incident.

Both countries recognize the need to work in a coordinated manner with all law enforcement agencies at all levels of government in both countries, to fulfill these proposed actions, and to achieve the objectives contained in this Action Plan.

The Secretary of Governance of Mexico and the Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States intend to work to ensure that the appropriate law enforcement agencies of our respective Governments work together to accomplish the tasks and to achieve the goals set forth in this Action Plan. With these steps, the Secretaries hope to strengthen the foundation of cooperation and advance the security goals set forth in the Security and Prosperity Partnership for North America.

Signed at Brownsville, Texas this third day of March of the year two thousand six, in two original versions, Spanish and English.

Michael Chertoff – – Carlos Abascal

###

March 3, 2006

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports on Sen. Arlen Specter''s ''gold card'' program for illegal aliens. Reminds us of that old Jerry Reed song, She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft).

WASHINGTON - Key provisions of the Senate''s main immigration bill would create a "gold card" program for illegal immigrants who entered the United States before Jan. 4, 2004, and create a guest worker program to bring in more foreign laborers, according to Senate Judiciary Committee staff members.

The committee is to begin debating the measure Wednesday under a three-week timetable aimed at producing a final version for the full Senate by March 27.

Sponsored by the committee chairman, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the legislation is designed to strike a middle course between a bill passed by the House that calls for tougher immigration enforcement and the wishes of pro-immigration advocates who call for permanent legal status -- and eventual citizenship -- for an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants.

SNIP

Committee staff members, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said applicants for the gold card would undergo a background check by the Homeland Security Department, then be eligible for two-year work visas that could be renewed indefinitely. The workers wouldn''t participate in the Social Security system but would contribute to future savings via investment accounts.

One top committee staffer described the "gold-card" proposal as "a reasonable compromise" in dealing with illegal immigrants, many of whom have lived here for decades. The undesirable alternative, he said, would be an unworkable massive roundup, which administration officials have said would cost billions of dollars.

SNIP

Here''s a link to the Senate Judiciary Committee''s list of members. Mash here.

Human Events political editor, John Gizzi, has a very interesting report of the California Republican convention and illegal immigration. These politicians had better start heeding the word from the American people: SECURE THE BORDERS.

Republicans Want Border Enforcement
by John Gizzi
Posted Mar 03, 2006

San Jose, Calif. -- Although the major news from the California Republican Convention here last week was about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2006 re-election campaign and his alliance with conservative State Sen. Tom McClintock, who will be his lieutenant-governor candidate (see “Politics,” page 18), there was another significant story emerging from the 1,400-plus GOP conventioneers gathered at the Fairmont Hotel that has immediate ramifications for the national Republican Party.

Almost to a person, the delegates, party activists and officeholders I spoke with at the convention cited illegal immigration as the issue that concerned them most.

Many of these Republicans coupled their concern about illegal immigration with low marks for the Bush Administration’s approach to the issue, particularly its support of a guest worker program. Schwarzenegger fared only slightly better among these grass-roots Republican activists. He drew a protracted ovation during his convention address when he called on the federal government to secure the Mexican border, but doubts about the governor’s overall stand on the immigration issue were still obvious at the convention. “It’s tough to take this governor seriously on the issue of illegal immigration when he won’t even say the words,” veteran GOP pollster Adam Probolsky of Orange County told me. “He chooses to use ‘undocumented immigrant.’ Anyone who cares about the issue of illegal immigration feels a little sadder each time he refuses to call them what they really are.”

Conservative Republican State Assemblyman and Human Events columnist Chuck DeVore reflected on the disconnect on the immigration issue between grassroots Republicans and the Bush Administration. “Yes, there is a split, as the core of the Republican Party sees the issue of illegal immigration first and foremost as a law enforcement and fairness issue,” said DeVore. “Once that is addressed, and only once it is addressed, will the rank and file support a look at revising the temporary work visa rules to create some sort of a guest-worker program.”

~SNIP~

To read the entire article, click on the title link!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SENATE CONSIDERATION OF GUEST WORKER AMNESTY CAUSES HUMAN TSUNAMI AT BORDER

(PHOENIX, AZ) March 6, 2006 – Chris Simcox, President of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, issued the following statement regarding the testimony of Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar at last Wednesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee, which confirmed that border apprehensions have skyrocketed this year:

“Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar testified last Wednesday before the Senate that Border Patrol agents have taken into custody well over 400,000 illegal aliens attempting to unlawfully cross the southern border in the first two months of this year—over one third of the 1.2 million apprehended in all of 2005. Those numbers are a startling signal of the disastrous effect the Senate’s consideration of ‘guest worker’ amnesty is having on our national security.

“The ‘guest worker’ amnesty proposed by Senators John McCain, Ted Kennedy and Arlen Specter, among others, has provoked a human tsunami at our southern border, overwhelming law enforcement agencies already under siege by international criminal cartels that have turned the border into a virtual war zone.

“For these very reasons, the Minutemen have been urging the government to secure the borders immediately before considering amnesty disguised as guest worker programs. The failure to do so has strained the resources of the Border Patrol and placed our national security at risk as this relentless tide of humanity heeds the clarion call of amnesty.

“It has been acknowledged by the government that an average of three illegal aliens successfully enter the country for every one that is apprehended. The whole world knows America’s commitment to border security and enforcement of our immigration laws is weak and ineffectual. Millions of people are pouring across our borders every year confident in the knowledge that President Bush and the United States Senate are going to grant them ‘guest worker’ amnesty and allow them to remain in this country indefinitely.

“The same day Aguilar testified before the Senate, Ted Kennedy led a rally of hundreds of illegal aliens on Capitol Hill where he told them he ‘smelled victory in the air.’ The emboldened illegal aliens then marched on the Senate to demand amnesty.

“Kennedy’s partner in Senate plans for another sweeping amnesty, John McCain—a future presidential candidate in search of a constituency—has turned his back on the people of Arizona he purportedly represents. Instead of actively working to protect his home state from the criminal onslaught at the border, McCain has allied himself with Ted Kennedy and extreme leftist groups as he travels the country promoting their amnesty bill.

“Two years ago when President Bush floated his ‘guest worker’ amnesty program in a major policy address, a similar race to the border took place. A U.S. Border Patrol survey of illegal aliens ordered by the Bush administration to gauge the effect of the President’s proposal showed that an astonishing 45% of those apprehended in the weeks after the speech said their decision to illegally enter America was motivated by President Bush’s ‘guest worker’ amnesty program. Subsequent analysis by the non-partisan group Judicial Watch indicates that these survey findings have been deliberately suppressed by the federal government, as politically damaging to the advancement of ‘guest worker’ amnesty schemes under Congressional consideration

“This year, Minuteman volunteers on patrol have experienced for themselves the surging numbers of illegal aliens jumping our border line. In a two-day weekend border watch operation last month in Three Points, Arizona, the presence of the Minutemen aided the Border Patrol in apprehending over 1000 illegal entrants, more than the agents were equipped to handle.

“The Minutemen will be returning to the northern and southern borders for the entire month of April to demonstrate once again to the politicians in Washington what effective border security looks like. We have issued an invitation challenging all 100 members of the Senate to join us at the border to witness in person the chaos that these amnesty proposals are creating. It is the U.S. Senate’s duty to observe the war zone in our own country before they cast their votes on border security and ‘guest worker’ amnesty.”