would you like being dragged by your hair and beaten?

Question

Citizens on the borders Sat,29,2006
by Joe Castro
News editor
Illegal immigration is one of the hottest issues burning in Americans’ minds. One debate I have been hearing a lot about is the vigilante movement to protect the U.S. border along Mexico.

One group among many on the border is called the Minutemen. This group of citizens gathered in Arizona last month to patrol the border and send illegal immigrants home. This might be a great way to stop illegal immigrants from crossing into the United States.
The Border Patrol spends millions each year, using high-tech equipment and thousands of personnel to capture people. Border Patrol agents must be highly trained and fluent in Spanish before they patrol, and still thousands of people cross over.

Students probably have not heard about the incidents of abuse by groups of citizens like the Minutemen. According to the Border Action Network, there have been thousands of incidents reported about people being dragged by their hair, beaten by night sticks and even shot at during their crossings.

The Minutemen are nothing new; there are several groups that have been actively patrolling the border and committing abuses against illegal immigrants as well as Mexican American citizens. These groups have also been advocated by many neo-Nazi and hate groups.

I’ll break for a minute to say I don’t think every citizen that volunteers to patrol the border is a racist. That is like saying that every immigrant that comes to the U.S. is here to commit a violent act, traffic drugs or take advantage of our freedoms. That is not the case, but it should be questioned whether it’s a good idea that citizens armed with guns and clubs should be left to patrol border areas with the assumption that nothing bad will happen. We should also ask how these groups are handling illegals and, when captured, are these groups accountable for human rights violations?

I think these groups are not accountable for abuses and need to be stopped or heavily regulated. I am not saying to do nothing about the illegal immigration problem. Instead of building walls or pouring money into the ineffective Border Patrol, we should look at improving identification programs and opportunities for workers to have some legal status, which is being done, but has flaws.

For those who complain that illegal immigrants are abusing health care programs and Social Security, remember that these people do pay taxes. In fact, according to an article in the New York Times, illegal immigrants paid roughly $7 billion to Social Security last year and $1.5 billion to Medicare.

Hand it to the Americans to want to do what the government is failing to do, but nothing good can come from allowing angry people to wander the desert hunting for Mexicans.

Answer 1

Oh please.....I live here on the Arizona Border. You don't have a clue to what Mexico and its drug dealers, coyotes and thousand of illegals do to the US and its citizens every single day, day after day. You need a change of diapers real bad.

Answer 2

That is a lie about the minute men if that was true the liberal media would love that it would be all over the news, and that hasn't happened, the minute men look out for illegals and then call border patrol. so stop spreading lies. What has been on the new is some of the minute men have saved the lives of quite a few Mexicans coming through the desert, they were dieing of thirst. They also look out for Mexicans in trouble some do not bring enough water when crossing the desert. Joe Castro in printing lies where are the pictures and why isn't it on the news. The liberal media would run with this piece of gossip.

Answer 3

I dont have enough hair to be dragged by it. I do not think people should be beaten for wanting to improve their life. I think our president has caused an increase in border crossings by mentioning that he may make some illegals citizens. I do not think that this is a good idea at all.
Of course the fact that we just deported an illegal that was working as a border patrol agent (way to go Homeland security, quit picking up tennage girl and do something!!!) shows how ineffective we are at border security. This guy smuggled hundreds in himself (some in the border patrol vehicles) while working for them using a fake birth certificate.

Answer 4

Of course I would not like to get beaten but hey the people who cross the border illegally should get more than a beating. They should fear for their lives. Then maybe they will stop breaking the law. My plan for secure borders is quite simple. Have the govt buy all the land along the border with a depth of 3 miles. Build a fence along this and issue hunting licenses that allow for the killing of anyone in this 3 mile area. The licenses pay for the fence and the fear of being killed will stop people from trying to cross. Problem solved.

Answer 5

Why do you only PRINT one side of the story???? What about all the Shootings along the Border by DRUG dealers? What about the incident where armed drug dealers from Mexico entered the US and took back a truck filled with drugs that the local and state police had stopped. Why you ask did the cops not attempt to stop this. There answer they were OUT GUNNED. Yet we send our troops to the border Un armed. As far as higher rates of violence along the border. I do not doubt it for 1 second PEOPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS INVASION. I believe U asked what will happen should amnesty be granted. Well take that book of a question you just asked and multiply that by THOUSANDS. and theres answer to TWO of your questions all at once.

Answer 6

Would you like to be "dragged by your hair" and have some SENSE beat into you? You are so wrong,it's not even funny! Where you been getting your information from? A Cracker Jack box? Because i'm sure that would make as much sense, as the crap you been spouting! Oh, now i see where, "JOE CASTRO (note the mexican name) NEWS EDITOR". Yeah, this explains a lot!
Minutemen ain't no "vigilantes"! They've never commited even one criminal act. Don't you think you would have heard about THAT on the news? What with the ACLU,just waiting for something they can nail them with. Wise up girl, and think for yourself.

Answer 7

I live on the border of Mexico and California (the desert). My concern is the amount of abuse that goes UNREPORTED. Alone in an isolated area... with immigrants of every age. I fear for the young women... who is going to hear their screams? Meanwhile terrorist are coming through the Canadian border. Minutemen may be a new name for the KKK.

Answer 8

Besides the fact that's a lie about Miniute men, that will not stop other citizens from protecting themselves from criminals any way they can.

It is NOT ok to kill Americans! What do you expect??

the reason why it's not the minutemen is because everywhere they patrol civil rights groups follow them like flies on **** to make sure they break no laws with cameras and camcorders!!

Answer 9

What????

You mean the minutemen are vigilantes? I thought they were a benevolent group just patrolling the borders???

They do have agenda's.....They do incite race wars....Great article...

And you make a great point....Who's to say these minutemen aren't abusing illegals??? They have no voice in this society, and no way to defend themselves....They have no rights, I don't doubt it for one second that abuses take place!

Answer 10

Dear, this is why you need an education. Get that GED please hurry! The Minutemen have not done anything like this. If they had, it would be on every news outlet out there. Secondly, more illegal immigrants are killed annually and left to die a horrible death by the coyotes who smuggle them. They are far from humane to your precious illegals. That is a FACT!...

Answer 11

you should watch the 30 days special on the minutemen, i married a hispanic and my opinion is they all should have to do it the legal way, we have 3 kids and the government doesnt care he still has to go back to mexico, leave his familiy, so I think all illegals should have to do it the right way no matter what, they all have the chance but are to lazy to do it! That is the honest truth!!