Sunday, May 01, 2005
Minutemen Leave - What Next for Border Residents?
This Washington Times: Special Report covers the end of the Minuteman Project's border vigil in Arizona. Yes, the Minutemen accomplished their goals: proving citizen action works, cutting illegal border crossings down by 90%, and focusing a great deal of national attention on the border control problem. But there is also the story of local residents who enjoyed a month of peace and freedom from worry. Some excerpts tell that story :
"Heaven help these folks when we leave," Mr. Gaddy says, attempting to make eye contact with each of the 40 men and women sitting at a dozen wooden tables. "The relative peace and tranquility they've experienced over the past few weeks is going to end, quite literally, overnight."
No one has to tell Connie Faust what he means.
Every night, illegal immigrants head north across the "retirement hideaway" that Mrs. Faust and her husband, Ed, own four miles down the highway near the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona.
"You have no idea how much safety and quiet you have given us, how grateful we are that you all are here," she says to the Minuteman Project volunteers, struggling to maintain her composure.
John Waters, who opened his diner at the antiquated Palominas Trading Post on Highway 92 as an "eating and meeting place" for the Minuteman volunteers, also knows what Mr. Gaddy means.
"All night, every night, the dogs are barking, the U.S. Border Patrol is chasing up one road or down another, and their helicopters are constantly buzzing overhead," says Mr. Waters, whose border property is also a favorite corridor for illegals crossing into the United States.
"Since the Minutemen arrived, we've been able to sleep at night, and that's no small task," he says.
Illegal immigrants have overrun the many oak tree-covered canyons and washes that flow out of the Huachuca Mountains and intersect with Highway 92, where numerous expensive houses have been built in recent years.
"They're hiding in the bushes, waiting to hook up with the smugglers in the very same area our children wait for the school bus," says Cindy Kolb, who has lived in the canyon area with her family for the past six years and waits for the bus with her daughter daily, armed with a pistol holstered on her ankle. "Maybe President Bush doesn't care about this, but many of us do."
Two weeks ago, Mrs. Kolb stood alongside the highway as the Border Patrol rounded up about 30 illegal immigrants who had been spotted and reported by the Minuteman volunteers.
"Thank you, Border Patrol. Thank you, Minuteman volunteers," she shouted, jumping several times into the air with both hands raised high above her head.
A good bottom line summary was made by Rep. J.D. Hayworth of Arizona, a Republican member of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus :
"What the Minutemen proved to the American people was this: The federal government can do something about illegal immigration other than to raise a white flag and surrender to the invasion on our Southern border," says Mr. Hayworth, who visited the volunteers.
"They not only discouraged the illegal crossing of our border, if only temporarily, but they also cast light on a national disgrace," he says. "I hope more members of Congress and more officials in this administration will see the light and join us to strongly enforce our laws against illegal immigration."
Indeed. A successful demonstration needs serious action and follow through to be a permanent fix.
"Heaven help these folks when we leave," Mr. Gaddy says, attempting to make eye contact with each of the 40 men and women sitting at a dozen wooden tables. "The relative peace and tranquility they've experienced over the past few weeks is going to end, quite literally, overnight."
No one has to tell Connie Faust what he means.
Every night, illegal immigrants head north across the "retirement hideaway" that Mrs. Faust and her husband, Ed, own four miles down the highway near the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona.
"You have no idea how much safety and quiet you have given us, how grateful we are that you all are here," she says to the Minuteman Project volunteers, struggling to maintain her composure.
John Waters, who opened his diner at the antiquated Palominas Trading Post on Highway 92 as an "eating and meeting place" for the Minuteman volunteers, also knows what Mr. Gaddy means.
"All night, every night, the dogs are barking, the U.S. Border Patrol is chasing up one road or down another, and their helicopters are constantly buzzing overhead," says Mr. Waters, whose border property is also a favorite corridor for illegals crossing into the United States.
"Since the Minutemen arrived, we've been able to sleep at night, and that's no small task," he says.
Illegal immigrants have overrun the many oak tree-covered canyons and washes that flow out of the Huachuca Mountains and intersect with Highway 92, where numerous expensive houses have been built in recent years.
"They're hiding in the bushes, waiting to hook up with the smugglers in the very same area our children wait for the school bus," says Cindy Kolb, who has lived in the canyon area with her family for the past six years and waits for the bus with her daughter daily, armed with a pistol holstered on her ankle. "Maybe President Bush doesn't care about this, but many of us do."
Two weeks ago, Mrs. Kolb stood alongside the highway as the Border Patrol rounded up about 30 illegal immigrants who had been spotted and reported by the Minuteman volunteers.
"Thank you, Border Patrol. Thank you, Minuteman volunteers," she shouted, jumping several times into the air with both hands raised high above her head.
A good bottom line summary was made by Rep. J.D. Hayworth of Arizona, a Republican member of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus :
"What the Minutemen proved to the American people was this: The federal government can do something about illegal immigration other than to raise a white flag and surrender to the invasion on our Southern border," says Mr. Hayworth, who visited the volunteers.
"They not only discouraged the illegal crossing of our border, if only temporarily, but they also cast light on a national disgrace," he says. "I hope more members of Congress and more officials in this administration will see the light and join us to strongly enforce our laws against illegal immigration."
Indeed. A successful demonstration needs serious action and follow through to be a permanent fix.
