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Vigilantes set to 'confront' migrants on US border
WASHINGTON U.S. nationalist vigilantes are set to begin patrolling the border with Mexico in an effort to stem what they see as a tide of undocumented immigrants, and some reports say violent Central American gang members are preparing to confront the selfstyled sentinels.
A group calling itself Civil Homeland Defense said Monday that it will deploy more than 1,000 volunteers along the Arizona-Mexico border this week to block those seeking to cross without visas.
Members of the CHD involved with the "Minuteman Project" emphasize they have no intention of doing any more than reporting immigrant sightings to the Border Patrol. However, one member of the group said in comments to the Washington Times that had been told of plans by the notorious Central American gang Mara Salvatrucha to confront the self-appointed border guardians.
Mexican President Vicente Fox has described the civilian border patrollers as "immigrant hunters," and U.S. President George W. Bush said last week that he does not approve of the activities of vigilante groups.
In February, the Mexican government sent a diplomatic note to the United States expressing concern over vigilante activities of anti-immigrant groups like the Minuteman Project.
Foreign Relations Secretary (SRE) official Gerónimo Gutiérrez said it was "very probable" that these groups would violating the rights of undocumented migrants. The note urged the United States to ensure that vigilante groups do not break the law when dealing with Mexican migrants, he added.
The Minuteman Project will commence April 1, organizer James Gilchrist said.
Gilchrist told the Washington Times that California- and Texas-based capos of Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, have ordered their members to teach a "lesson" to the CHD contingent planning to stake out a 32kilometer (almost 20-mile) stretch of the San Pedro River valley.
But the Minuteman organizer was undaunted by the threat. "We're not worried because half of our recruits are retired trained combat soldiers," Gilchrist told the Washington daily. "And those guys are just a bunch of punks."
Vigilante groups like the Minutemen have appeared in increasing numbers in Arizona in recent years, despite an increase in the number of Border Patrol agents by the U.S. government. However, they have largely been small, informal groups, unlike the Minuteman project.
Between 1998 and 2004, Mexico has initiated 76 legal cases against vigilantes who have detained Mexican migrants, but only five have made it before a judge.
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/pls/impreso/noticia.html?id_nota=9968&tabla=miami
Members of the CHD involved with the "Minuteman Project" emphasize they have no intention of doing any more than reporting immigrant sightings to the Border Patrol. However, one member of the group said in comments to the Washington Times that had been told of plans by the notorious Central American gang Mara Salvatrucha to confront the self-appointed border guardians.
Mexican President Vicente Fox has described the civilian border patrollers as "immigrant hunters," and U.S. President George W. Bush said last week that he does not approve of the activities of vigilante groups.
In February, the Mexican government sent a diplomatic note to the United States expressing concern over vigilante activities of anti-immigrant groups like the Minuteman Project.
Foreign Relations Secretary (SRE) official Gerónimo Gutiérrez said it was "very probable" that these groups would violating the rights of undocumented migrants. The note urged the United States to ensure that vigilante groups do not break the law when dealing with Mexican migrants, he added.
The Minuteman Project will commence April 1, organizer James Gilchrist said.
Gilchrist told the Washington Times that California- and Texas-based capos of Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, have ordered their members to teach a "lesson" to the CHD contingent planning to stake out a 32kilometer (almost 20-mile) stretch of the San Pedro River valley.
But the Minuteman organizer was undaunted by the threat. "We're not worried because half of our recruits are retired trained combat soldiers," Gilchrist told the Washington daily. "And those guys are just a bunch of punks."
Vigilante groups like the Minutemen have appeared in increasing numbers in Arizona in recent years, despite an increase in the number of Border Patrol agents by the U.S. government. However, they have largely been small, informal groups, unlike the Minuteman project.
Between 1998 and 2004, Mexico has initiated 76 legal cases against vigilantes who have detained Mexican migrants, but only five have made it before a judge.
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/pls/impreso/noticia.html?id_nota=9968&tabla=miami
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