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Return to Article: Activists to flock to border, set up citizen patrols

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  These people say "you need us, what will you do without us?" Well, nobody wanted you here in the first place so go back if you are illegal. If you are here legally and don't cause a burden, we welcome you. If you are a burden, go away and show how much you love your country in your country.

  Bill Posted April 12, 2006 9:38 PM
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  As an American, I have watched and seen American people abuse and not pay the Mexican people from Mexico for work finished. They work long and hot days in Florida then to find out they will not get paid because their boss knows they have no rights because they're illegal. How can one sleep at night knowing they worked so hard and did a good job and are paying your bills and we are not paying them for their hard work?

  Florida would not be where it is now after Hurricane Ivan if it was not for the men and women of Mexico and other places for their hard work. Right now I am not proud to be American because we are money hungry, we are not honest people, we always have something bad to say and we judge people to fast. Protect this country from criminals terrorists, etc., yes. Who is to say who has the rights to be in this country it should be the Native Americans and the Mexicans -- they were here first. They did not send people back. We were all born the same we all come into this world naked with no visa, no money, with nothing and we leave this world with nothing your money left behind.

  So what can we do to make it safe for people that were here first that should not have to pay for a visa? Or what can we do to help and make things better than building a wall. I met a lot of Mexican people here in Florida. They worked hard with no water and they were proud for the work they did. Not knowing I found it to be slavery and not right for a human race to be treated that way. It made me sick to my stomach to be American. To see that man smile and keep working. Broke my heart then to find out he never got paid for doing a wonderful job. We need to stop and think there human being just like me and you. Stop being so mean and hateful. We have bigger issue than worrying about Mexicans working. We have American's taking our children and murdering them and people are missing everyday.

  Vicky Posted January 9, 2006 7:29 PM
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  Oh my God!!! You all just need to freaking cool down!! Stop putting the freaking blame on everyone else!! Yes, President Fox isn't helping with the border control on his side, but neither is President Bush. Yes, we have illegal immigrants, and it's not helping our economy. But we don't have to blame them for everything! Some of them have children who know English, so they talk for their parents. Do any of you, who are all old I'm assuming, know how hard it is for someone over the age of 20 to learn a different language??? Yeah, pretty hard. If you don't learn a language before the age of 10, it's going to take a freaking long time. Don't go bashing them for not knowing your language. What do you think other countries, like in Europe, think of American's who go to those countries, not knowing the language?!?!?!!??! Yeah... they hate it too! It's not just us!!! We are also to blame. And yes, I'm an American. And I am bashing on America. Or the United States. But guess what? We need it. Because we keep putting the blame on every other country that isn't the United States, and it doesn't help relations with other countries. So stop bashing everything you hate, and start to realize, we are the same kind of nuisance that we think everyone else is.

  Geez, I'm only 18, and I act more mature than all of you. That's quite sad.

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 6, 2006 12:50 PM
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  I want to let you know, that I am a Canadian married to a Colombian, and just to be with my husband is the hardest thing to do, because of the diplomatic crap of the embassies in Colombia, including the Canadian, American and Mexican. I would do almost anything to be with my husband right now, but because of border control, I am separated from him, with fewer opportunities to even spend a weekend with him. I am able to go anywhere in the world, but because my husband is Colombian, he cannot even leave his country without a visa. And why??? Because of the governments opinion of illegal aliens.

  Let me tell you one thing, if the only way for me to be with my husband is to cross a border illegally, so be it. I love him more than life itself and I will do anything I have to, to be with him. Love is stronger than any border control, so think about the families that are being supported in Mexico because their son or brother or father or grandfather has crossed the border and is working at a disrespectful job sending money home to the family for food for that week??? You live in the United States - good for you. But these people have no other way to support their families. My husband cannot afford the hundreds of dollars it costs every time to apply for a visa, so think about what you say before you start bashing foreigners just because you are American.

  What is an American??? A mix of a lot of other cultures. You are nothing without the sweat off some poor mans hands that built your home, or harvested the grains you eat as bread. Give a little more love, not hate. You are the type of person that makes the rest of the world hate Americans. I am blessed being Canadian, because I can go anywhere in the world with no visa. You on the other hand have many countries that despise you because you are American, and because of the Bush attitude.

  Colombian's wife Posted November 12, 2005 12:06 AM
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  I'm of Hispanic decent. My Great Grandparents Came from Spain and Cuba (The legal way). They learned the language(english)and got jobs(sometimes 2 jobs) to make ends meet and expected nothing from no one. My whole family is bilingual...with no thick accent(there's no excuse for that if you are born in the U.S.) We need to do something about the illegals coming in. They bring nothing to the United States but more problems. They don't bother to learn english, have too many kids they can't care for and expect everyone in this country to give them freebies. They are trying to turn the United States into Mexico. I've been hit by a mexican driver two times. No insurance or license. They gave them tickets both times and all the people who hit me did was go back to Mexico. How do they expect we're going to react to them when they won't even be a part of society? They won't even learn the language. If you want to be a member of Society here, then work, take care of your kids, don't apply for welfare and God!! learn English. Then we'll be more likely to welcome you.

  Suzette Valdes- Roberts Posted September 19, 2005 1:32 PM
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  Activists have every right to protect their citizenship according to our constitution's 14th Amendment, establishing that each state must guarantee equal protection to its citizens (legal United States American citizens). I am a naturalized american citizen and proud of it. Mexico is actually encouraging their poor and criminal to cross over U.S. borders and take back the Southwestern states through the use of their numbers. There are no Mexican Family Values since a very large number of Mexican families are not married and produce illegitmate children with a purpose. I am proud to be an American and will protect our Constitution from tyranny.

  Sally Posted September 11, 2005 1:22 PM
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  Hey! Why don't we do this: Stop everyone from entering the U.S. like the Pilgrims did when they traveled by ships running from religious persecution and taking over a country that was never theirs to begin with and kill the natives of the land. Or I know let's go to war and take away the rest of Mexico from the Mexicans like the Americans did when they took away Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Oh I know! I know! Let's stop the immigrants from taking away our jobs like working migrant field's in the hot blazing sun or washing dishes in an underpaid over-exposed fast food place or how about cleaning filthy public bathrooms. Oh yeah let's stop those immigrants. You guys make me sick! How dare these so called Border Patrol Volunteers talk about the Economy when all they have is a H.S. Diploma, you ignorants. If your not an Economic Major, do you homework before coming up with vigilante groups.

  PO'd American Latina Nurse Posted August 4, 2005 6:04 PM
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  First of all, although we will always be able to find some sad stories out there such as a Colombian family being denied a visa with no good reason, such is absolutely not the case with the vast majority of illegals that flood our borders every day. It is estimated that we have 11 million illegal aliens here, and thousands more that enter every day. Does anyone honestly think that a significant percentage of the illegals pouring in from Mexico on a daily basis actually attempted to get a visa first?

  Secondly, the burden is supposed to be on the visitor to prove why he/she should be allowed into the U.S. The burden is not supposed to be on the U.S. to prove why he/she shouldn't be allowed in.

  Thirdly, of course the same standards don't apply to American citizens as to aliens! By that logic, every person in the world has just as much of a right to live in the U.S. as U.S. citizens do. If you carry this argument out to its logical conclusion, we might as well just dissolve the U.S. and declare our country to be a free territory. Step one in understanding the immigration problem is to understand that we are our own country, and that non-U.S. citizens don't share the same entitlements to be here as citizens do.

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 13, 2005 2:47 PM
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  You missed my point somewhat SSA/ICE. Controlled access to the US performed in a sensible manner should go a long way towards reducing illegal crossing of our borders. I am not implying that everyone that wants to come to the US should be allowed carte blanche, but given a reasonable opportunity to visit the US. The standards we apply especially to common South of the border citizens versus Europeans is downright disproportionate and very selective (racist). Yes, and no matter how hard you tap dance around it, it is a fact. We don't want Mexicans and Latinos flooding the country so we set up fortresses around our Southern border with the pretense that we must stop drug runners, and as you put it diseased individuals. Is there a problem with drug runners? Yes, but not to the extent it is being portrayed. The whole issue is just magnified by the paranoid hysteria presently consuming our country. I don't see much concern with our Northern neighbors, perhaps because they have a European flavor, and maybe somewhat stronger with a sizeable oil reserve stashed away. We can't afford to rub them the wrong way. Am I a hopeless dreamer? No, just a DoD Hispanic employee that has traveled the world and sees things a bit differently. I happen to come from a tiny island invaded by the US of A about a century ago and snatched away from Spain. Because of a war the US of A started with Spain, because it thought the Spaniards sunk one of our ships. Later proved to be wrong, but Oops!, sorry. Not to stray off the subject, but something similar to Iraq and WMD's. But don't get me wrong. I am not bitter about it. I am happy to be born an American. I just wish many other Americans, like those preceded by Central, and South could travel a bit more freely throughout all the Americas. That's all.

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 13, 2005 3:45 AM
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  Hey, DoD Program Analyst, don't you see this for what it is, an invasion of the USA? How many of the more than 6 billion people in the world want to come here? Should we allow everybody in? By your logic, anyone who breaks into your home should be allowed to stay! Our population is already approaching 300 million, and this is straining our resources. We are seeing drug-resistant tuberculosis, and other diseases we had eradicated, or never seen here before, courtesy of illegal aliens. Who do you think pays their medical bills? Not them! We are a nation founded upon our belief in the rule of law. Anyone who breaks our laws, be they drug trafficking, terrorism or illegal immigration, doesn't belong here. If they have no problem entering our country ILLEGALLY, do you think they'd have any problems breaking other laws as well? Just go to any prison in any state with a large illegal alien population, and see how many of the inmates are illegal aliens. Most AMERICANS don't want this happening to our country. My grandparents came here LEGALLY from Europe, and assimiliated into our society. Today's immigrants, illegal and legal, often stay apart, and make no effort to learn our language or ways. You sound like a hopeless dreamer, with no regard for the facts or logic. Maybe you want to live like that, but many of us don't! Try working at the border some day, and see what is really going on!

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 11, 2005 2:42 PM
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  Have any of you "Illegal immigrant" bashers ever asked yourself the simple question, and wondered, "Why are so many people coming across the borders without visas?" Is it because they are too lazy, or don't have enough money to apply for a visa? Or is it because they have tried doing it the correct way and got rejected by our consulates, or embassies in foreign countries? You know, by those squeaky clean arrogant consulate people, with the power to reject legal entry simply because he or she doesn't like your looks, or maybe you were asked a tricky question that you innocently answered incorrectly? I know a Colombian family that got a tourist visa to visit Mickey Mouse in Orlando rejected because he was asked during his interview if he ever visited Central America. He innocently answered "No" but his passport said he visited Panama. No one in Colombia relates to Panama as being in Central America. Panama used to be part of Colombia. Well, now this person is branded by our State Department as a "Liar", and perhaps will never in his life be granted a tourist visa. Is this really fair? Or perhaps a person is rejected because he was arrested in his country ten years ago because he was involved in a bar room brawl. Or perhaps a person doesn't have a sizable bank account? Before you bash the illegals, ask yourself, if other countries applied the same standards we do to foreigners, how many Americans would be granted visas? I bet half the US population would be rejected. Unless we have sensible fair immigration policies, the likes of "Juancho" and "Maria" will have no choice but to sneak under the fence. Think about it.

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 11, 2005 3:25 AM
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  Are you aware that you have the very same attitude as your President? President Fox, I am speaking of... Do you understand that your president is not doing anything for you or your country and you and your people are illegally crossing over into American soil, another country? You are not Americans otherwise you would understand our positions as Americans... You cannot cross over to any other country in this world and expect to be welcomed illegally. The key word here, dear is "illegal", can you understand that? Illegal.

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 4, 2005 6:17 PM
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  I don't blame the illegals, they only come here because a George Bush businessman or woman have an illegal job for them. If the government wanted to protect us from the illegals they would arrest the business person that hires the illegals.

  It is not hard to figure out, but is impossible for the Bush administration to do anything about. They are too busy trying to get rid of civil servants who do the work of the government. Does any of this make sense?

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 4, 2005 8:19 AM
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  I think this is a great opportunity for all Americans to demonstrate that they really love their country and will do whatever they can to keep it safe. Is there an address where people can mail donations to this organization? In the middle of the 18th century, the Minutemen provided the opportunity for the people of this country to escape the oppression of the British rulers. Now is the chance for the American people to stand up and reclaim our country and its borders. Let's hope these people continue their efforts not just during April but for many months to follow.

  GovExec.com reader Posted March 30, 2005 6:47 AM
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  Ok: Some in the Border Patrol are concerned that Minutemen, illegal immigrants, MS-13 members, whoever, will start a mini-war on the border.

  Do you think some in the Border Patrol, and in the Bush administration, including our brilliant President, are also afraid that the Minutemen might draw attention to the fact that Bush has done little to protect the border?

  It's time this issue got the attention of people besides border residents and immigrant activists. It's time for people to wake up and demand that government agencies actually enforce the law. Granted, our President may not want to enforce the law, but the Constitution doesn't give him the choice.

  Zach Posted March 29, 2005 2:59 PM
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  I live on the border and it is a joke, actually, we DO have worse then open borders now since the enforcement is laughable, actually it is more like a crying shame. I see illegals running across the highways with their water jugs and backpacks all the time and their big punishment is either to be driven in an air-conditioned van back to the border to try again (and make it) tomorrow or if they are MORE of a threat (not Mexican) they are asked for a fake name and told to come back to court later. Americans were lied to in the 60s the only time Congress voted to change our immigration policy (they were told the racial make-up of America would not be allowed to change) so we have had no say at all in the fact that we are becoming a hispanic country whose truest ties are to a corrupt country that doesn't even try to tackle their own problems. Just GREAT!! My ancestors have been in this country since the 1600s but I no longer feel like an American--WAKE UP! A country that has no feeling of being a "people" will have the same fate as the soviet union which could not maintain cohesion during economic downturns and without force. I can understand Hispanics loving this immigration but it is an invasion (they know it and love it) but it is a disaster for the rest of us who the world pictures when the world mentions the name America!!

  Deb Carnes Posted March 29, 2005 1:22 PM
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  What vigilantes? I read this story about AMERICANS, of whatever ethnic group protecting their homes, families, properties against illegal trespass, period. The Bush/Fox administrations want unlimited free borders, not trade, not 'guest'workers, but invasion. Post 9/11 how can anyone still believe that naive and childish drivel at the base of the Statue of Liberty? America always needs legal immigrants, we do not need any more illegal aliens!

  GovExec.com reader Posted March 29, 2005 10:21 AM
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  Years ago, as a high school student, I participated in the Ground Observer Corps. This was an organized, officially sanctioned group of volunteers that watched our nation's skies for enemy aircraft. All we did was report aircraft sightings and phone them in to a central location. We had watchtowers set up on elevated places - in our case, on the top of the tallest building in our town.

  I wonder if this wouldn't be a valid model for the border authorities and the Minuteman Project folks to "get together" to support their (hopefully) common goal.

  GovExec.com reader Posted March 29, 2005 8:03 AM
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  Well, I must say I never thought I'd see it but ... "Even a broken clock is right twice a day." For one of the few times, I must agree with our incumbant.

  Okay, to be honest, I could come down on both sides of this discussion.

  Side 1. Pro:
  1. I believe in citizen participation.
  2. I believe in the right to bear arms.
  3. I think the government should do a better job.

  Side 2. Con:
  1. I worry about armed reactionaries' reactions at 0200 hrs as they encounter desperate people.
  2. I believe folks need to better themselves and my family has seen some desperate times so perhaps I can understand ...
  3. I think the government should do a better job. For me, the questions that come to mind are: "How?" and "At what cost?"

  Seems like a recipe for something ... (The word "Disaster!" comes to mind). I think we'll be hearing more about this in the "near and dear"...

  Tip Posted March 29, 2005 7:16 AM
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  If the country had the outdated immigration requirements years ago that are in place today Jim Gilchrist and his ancestors probably wouldn't be here. What's next, bounty hunting for those already here?

  taxpayer Posted March 29, 2005 6:21 AM
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  How many Hispanic Border Patrol Agents work the Southern Border?

  BP spokesman Salvador Zamora, please explain your statement: "they as the citizens of the United States, have the right to gather. But we have to also ensure that no rights are violated - even an 'undocumented' alien's right to not be detained illegally."

  BP spokesman Jose Garza, please explain your statement: "When an agent responds to a scene where a U.S. citizen has had any 'interaction' with an illegal alien, the agent has to notify "local law enforcement," (which law enforcement) and wait for a response to see if a "civil rights," (whose civil rights) violation has occurred."

  (Article IV, Section 4. of the U.S. Constitution. American citizens protected from invasion of U.S. Borders. Is this not a criminal offense? Is not the Border Patrol Law Enforcement? What am I missing?)

  Thanks for your consideration.....

  GovExec.com reader Posted March 29, 2005 1:22 AM
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  Why is everyone so worried about this? These AMERICANS are volunteering to help law enforcement deal with the DELUGE of illegal aliens pouring into OUR country. Rather than thank them for their assistance, the president, the ACLU, and the Mexican government are calling them vigilantes. In my city, police are grateful for citizen volunteers who participate in neighborhood watches, and serve as the "eyes and ears" of the police. Isn't this group trying to accomplish the same goals, namely, of reporting illegal activities to law enforcement? Good for them! Until our government addresses this problem, and provides the necessary resources to patrol the border adequately, I say let the Minutemen assist. And I have this to say to Presidente Fox - mind your own business! You have some nerve criticizing OUR efforts to control OUR borders, when the problem of illegal immigration from Mexico is directly attributable to the rampant corruption and widespread economic mismanagement occurring in YOUR country, which is YOUR fault, NOT ours! Clean up YOUR own act, before you DARE to criticize us!

  GovExec.com reader Posted March 28, 2005 5:03 PM