Anti-Immigrant Group Raises Concern

Roughly translated by Google.com and slightly adjusted by American Patrol
[Links added by AmericanPatrol.com]

Anti-Immigrant Group Raises Concern

7/30/02 TUCSON, Arizona (EFE). - - Activists of human rights expressed their concern after an anti-immigrant group announced that it will extend his "monitoring" of the border to control the movements of the undocumented people who try to enter the country. The antiimmigrant group based in California, known as the "American Patrol" announced that as of the next month it will begin to watch the desert of Arizona to follow very close by the movements of the undocumented people and to warn the Immigration Service (INS) of the presence of the immigrants.

One of the factors that worry local activists more is the presence of several ex- agents of the INS between the ranks of the "American Patrol", in individual the one of own the ex- head of the Border Patrol in the sector of Tucson, Rum Sanders. "Racism always has existed in the border. But that ex- civil employees of the government participate in these group is alarming ", said Isabel Garcia, lawyer of immigration and director of the Derechos Humanos Coalition of Arizona. In agreement with Garcia, these people count more on information on the places journeyed by the undocumented people, as well as of the tactics of tracking used by the Border Patrol.

Also, the presence of Sanders between the ranks of the group anti-immigrant could cause a strong division between the active agents of the Border Patrol. "Many of them still feel much respect and loyalty towards Sanders", said the lawyer.

During the time that Sanders was to the front of the Border Patrol in the Tucson sector, there were complaints and demands against the federal agency, including accusations of physical abuse, violation and murder. Sanders was replaced in 1999 by David Aguilar, a Mexican-American with ample studies and knowledge on the conditions in the border. Mexican army

The "American Patrol" also informed that it will be dedicated to observe the activities of the Mexican Army in the border.

Sanders declared publicly that the "American Patrol" will only observe the flow of the undocumented people and will report immediately the Border Patrol. The group will watch the zone 24 hours to the day and the results of their monitoring will be documented in the page of Internet of this organization.

The group, that already tells on an office in the population of Hereford the southwest of Vista Mountain range, also will collect information on the paper of the Mexican authorities and will try to investigate if somehow these contribute to illegal immigration.

Bill King, another member of the "American Patrol" and also ex- agent of the INS, declared recently to a local newspaper that the United States "is being invaded by undocumented people and who the only possible solution is the militarization of the border".

The "American Patrol" is not the only group anti-immigrant who has shown interest to settle down itself in Arizona, and she inquired that also the "Ranch Patrol" has interest in expanding its operations. The "Ranch Patrol" caught the national attention when one of its members, Roger Barnett, began to stop all the undocumented people who crossed by their farm to pistol end and using hunting dogs. The activists of the zone have expressed that although still has not occurred any incident, the presence of these groups antiimmigrant is "a time pump".

The lawyer Garcia added that to solve the problem of illegal immigration in the border, the efforts must follow concentrated in looking for reforms the migratory laws of the United States.