Article

2005-07-21 Home Front: Culture Wars

Border Patrol looks at enlisting volunteers

Slight trimming

LOS ANGELES - The Border Patrol is exploring ways to involve citizen volunteers in creating "something akin to a Border Patrol auxiliary," the agency's top enforcement official said yesterday. It was a significant shift after a high-profile civilian campaign during the spring along the Arizona-Mexico border. Maybe because it worked?

Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner said in an interview his agency began looking into citizen involvement after noting how eager volunteers were to stop illegal immigration.

"We value having eyes and ears of citizens, and I think that would be one of the things we are looking at is how you better organize, let's say, a ~~vigilante~~ citizen effort," Bonner said.

It could involve training of volunteers organized "in a way that would be something akin to a Border Patrol auxiliary," he said.

Bonner characterized the idea of an auxiliary as "an area we're looking at," and a spokeswoman said it hadn't been discussed with top Homeland Security officials.

"This is what we need to study," said Bonner, who was in Los Angeles to discuss port security. He said questions such as what kind of authority volunteers might be given - for example, deputizing them to make arrests - would have to be answered.

Until now, Border Patrol officials have generally criticized civilian efforts to police the nation's borders, saying that was the job of ~~the too few~~ trained law enforcement officers.

President Bush has expressed opposition to border "vigilantes." But most of the grass-roots of his party disagree.

But in April, hundreds of volunteers converged on a 23-mile stretch of the Arizona-Mexico border, and the Minuteman Project generated international attention. And domestic applause, including Mine.

Enrique ~~Moron~~ Morones of ~~Hell's~~ Border Angels, a San Diego group that gives water to ~~criminals~~ immigrants who cross the California-Mexico border, called it "a recipe for disaster."

"You'll have all of these unqualified yahoos being given license to promote hate," he said. Groups like MeChA and La Raza think they have a monopoly on hating others.

Posted by Jackal 2005-07-21 16:40|| || Front Page|| [35 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Perhaps the Mexican government should suggest it be in charge of organizing American citizens to defend our border.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-07-21 17:51|| 2005-07-21 17:51|| Front Page Top

#2 They changed their minds.
Homeland Security backs off idea of civilian border patrol.
LOS ANGELES The Department of Homeland Security says it has NO plans to use citizen volunteers to help patrol the border. The message comes a day after Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert Bonner said his agency was considering training volunteers as a patrol auxiliary. Today, Homeland Security issued a statement saying there are _ quote _ "no plans" to use civilians for border patrol. It says the job should be left to professionals.

The announcement follows controversy over the "Minuteman Project," in which unarmed civilian volunteers patrolled the Arizona border with Mexico in April to spot illegal immigrants.
Last week, a small group of citizens launched a similar patrol in the mountains outside San Diego.

Posted by GK 2005-07-21 22:30|| 2005-07-21 22:30|| Front Page Top

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