Citizens rush to hold border
Minutemen say feds fall short
By: Caroline Dye, Staff Writer
Issue date: 10/4/07 Section: State & National
A coalition of several citizens' groups recently descended on southern Arizona for the month-long Operation Allied Minutemen, a concentrated attempt to combat illegal immigration in the United States.
The Patriots' Border Alliance, a national organization of minutemen, sponsored the push, said alliance operations coordinator Bill Irwin.
"It starts to cool off in the desert, and the illegals begin to move," he said. "The drug running picks up in September because marijuana is harvested in September."
Irwin said minutemen groups from states around the country, including North Carolina, travel to the Southwest throughout the year to compensate for what they consider a lack of action by the federal government.
Marion Larabee, of New Bern, said he founded the N.C. Minuteman Patriots in January and has recruited about 12 new members since.
Larabee said he started N.C. Minuteman Patriots because he feels that illegal immigrants are taking away American jobs and pose a security risk.
"Enforcing existing immigration law is what we need to do," he said. "They're trying to take away the Southwest part of the country right now."
But some groups within the United States believe the minutemen do more harm than good.
"It creates a profiling factor," said Mauricio Castro, an organizer of the N.C. Latino Coalition. "The activities that these groups are doing affects Latinos dramatically because Latinos are identified as illegals."
Castro said citizen enforcement of border control is only one way for minutemen groups to address an issue that is better dealt with through the democratic process.
"I think the federal government is much more capable than a handful of citizens who may not understand what they are doing," he said.
Castro also said these groups sensationalize the problem instead of discussing the root issues behind illegal immigration.
But Larabee said the threat is just too serious not to act.
The Patriots' Border Alliance, a national organization of minutemen, sponsored the push, said alliance operations coordinator Bill Irwin.
"It starts to cool off in the desert, and the illegals begin to move," he said. "The drug running picks up in September because marijuana is harvested in September."
Irwin said minutemen groups from states around the country, including North Carolina, travel to the Southwest throughout the year to compensate for what they consider a lack of action by the federal government.
Marion Larabee, of New Bern, said he founded the N.C. Minuteman Patriots in January and has recruited about 12 new members since.
Larabee said he started N.C. Minuteman Patriots because he feels that illegal immigrants are taking away American jobs and pose a security risk.
"Enforcing existing immigration law is what we need to do," he said. "They're trying to take away the Southwest part of the country right now."
But some groups within the United States believe the minutemen do more harm than good.
"It creates a profiling factor," said Mauricio Castro, an organizer of the N.C. Latino Coalition. "The activities that these groups are doing affects Latinos dramatically because Latinos are identified as illegals."
Castro said citizen enforcement of border control is only one way for minutemen groups to address an issue that is better dealt with through the democratic process.
"I think the federal government is much more capable than a handful of citizens who may not understand what they are doing," he said.
Castro also said these groups sensationalize the problem instead of discussing the root issues behind illegal immigration.
But Larabee said the threat is just too serious not to act.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 15
will
posted 10/04/07 @ 9:09 PM EST
"It creates a profiling factor," said Mauricio Castro, an organizer of the N.C. Latino Coalition. "The activities that these groups are doing affects Latinos dramatically because Latinos are identified as illegals. (Continued…)
Common Sense
posted 10/05/07 @ 8:12 AM EST
"It creates a profiling factor," said Mauricio Castro, an organizer of the N.C. Latino Coalition. "The activities that these groups are doing affects Latinos dramatically because Latinos are identified as illegals. (Continued…)
Diana
posted 10/05/07 @ 8:57 AM EST
Mr. Castro's concern about profiling is well-founded. A significant portion of the residents living near the US-Mexico border have Latino heratige, many times going back several generations, from when that portion of the US was Mexican-owned. (Continued…)
FarmTruk
posted 10/05/07 @ 9:17 AM EST
Diana, your arguement regarding racial profiling is moot. It's not Anglos, Blacks, or Asians that are crossing our southern boarders illegally. It is the Hispanics. (Continued…)
Diana
posted 10/05/07 @ 10:04 AM EST
Farm, my point is that though some Hispanics are crossing the border are doing so illegally, others are coming to the US legally. Therefore, it is a plausible concern that there will be profiling because not all Hispanics are undocumented, and many are citizens. (Continued…)
Well then..
posted 10/05/07 @ 10:47 AM EST
Profiling along the Mexican border is a necessary solution to the major illegal immigration problem in those areas. If a legal resident of the US is profiled, all he or she has to do is show proof of citizenship (pay stub, SS card, passport, etc. (Continued…)
Nancy
Nancy
posted 10/05/07 @ 11:24 AM EST
"Well then" you're in support of racial profiling?
Perhaps you should consider relocating to an area that does not respect civil liberties as much as the United States. (Continued…)
FarmTruk
posted 10/05/07 @ 11:27 AM EST
Correct...U.S. citizens are required by law to produce valid ID when asked by an LEO. If they do not, they run the risk of being detained until such can be produced. (Continued…)
Reason
posted 10/05/07 @ 11:47 AM EST
Diana, there's no use in arguing with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Linus
posted 10/05/07 @ 4:59 PM EST
Forget about profiling, folks. When you see a line of people hiking through the desert, going north from the Mexican border, in a single file line with backpacks and water bottles, they fit the profile. (Continued…)
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