In the past year, Project Minutemen has become more than a group of armed ranchers taking the law into their own hands. The group has now become a national symbol for anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States, entering 2006 with new border patrol units and chapters around the country.
Representatives of the Minutemen militia informed Hoy that, in April, they plan to undertake a new surveillance initiative on the Arizona border, where they claim to have helped capture 335 undocumented immigrants last year.
Meanwhile, militia volunteers continued to protest around areas where day workers gather in cities such as Phoenix, asking U.S. residents not to give work to undocumented immigrants.
Carmen Mercer, vice-president of the Project Minutemen in Arizona, says that these protests do not seek to discriminate against Mexicans in any way.
“It’s a matter of protecting our border. It’s not fair that millions of people are patiently waiting for the opportunity to come and live in this great country, while others come in through the back door without papers,” said Mercer, herself a German immigrant.
The U.S. Border Patrol calculates that more than 500,000 undocumented immigrants are arrested annually in the Arizona border area.
At the same time, dozens of volunteers from Oklahoma who participated in the border work are meeting to form a new Minutemen chapter in Oklahoma. Greg Thompson, one of the members, indicated that he expects 100 volunteers for the meeting on January 7.
Thompson explained that the group will focus on monitoring businesses that offer work to undocumented immigrants, especially day workers.
”The group is open to anyone who wants to participate,” added Thompson, noting that this same kind of work took place last April in Arizona.
Meanwhile, in Texas, the Minutemen group criticized the Catholic Church for helping undocumented immigrants.
Chris Simcox, founder of the Minutemen, said that compassion for those who violate federal law has a limit.
“Churches have a long history of providing refuge because they consider these people to be children of God,” he said. “But how do they know they aren’t helping and encouraging terrorists?”
“The journey from Central America to the United States is arduous,” said Jim Loiacono, parish priest of Our Lady of Refuge church, a few blocks away from the border of Mexico. “They arrive ragged and exhausted. They just need food and shelter.”
Hilario Leal, local spokesman for the Border Patrol, said that the agents were aware of the help that the church provides to immigrants, but they are focused on looking for people dealing in contraband.
Tony Castañeda, chief of police of Eagle Pass, said that in his opinion, the church is not violating any laws or abusing its privileges in the community. In fact, the church is helping to keep immigrants from falling into desperation and crime.
