← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Texas Dissident
Thread ID: 18748 | Posts: 5 | Started: 2005-06-21
2005-06-21 19:08 | User Profile
[url=http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3233905]Minutemen set sights on Goliad[/url]
Landowners give their support, but some residents voice concerns By EDWARD HEGSTROM
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
June 21, 2005, 7:15AM
GOLIAD - Invoking the history of the Texas Revolution, about 150 residents of this historic town gathered Monday to prepare for patrols to stop the flow of illegal immigrants through the region.
The audience, many in cowboy hats, listened quietly for about an hour as leaders of the Arizona Minutemen explained how they organized a patrol along their own border in April. The group, now called the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, plans to do the same in all four southern border states in October.
"Goliad is one of the centers where Texas independence was fought," noted Ken Buelter, a local landowner who introduced the Minutemen. Remembering that people from all over the United States swarmed to Texas to fight against the Mexicans in 1836, Buelter called for a new campaign against illegal immigration.
"Over 38 states came to help Texas fight for its independence," he said. "Once again we are asking brothers to come and help us ... in our time of need."
Chris Simcox, the leader of the Arizona group, explained that the civil patrols in Texas and the other states would be organized among locals. The speeches from the Arizona representatives lasted about an hour, drawing occasional applause.
But the audience turned more boisterous after Simcox opened the floor for questions. One man asked if taking the law into their own hands didn't invite anarchy.
"We have anarchy in this country, sir, and it's on the border," replied Simcox.
Another audience member, Richard Villarreal, complained of being stopped and searched by the Border Patrol, and praised the contributions of immigrants.
"They come over here for a better life," he said. "Y'all don't say nothing when they build your fences, build your houses."
Others in the audience told Villarreal to go home.
"Goliad is my home," he responded.
Earlier in the day, Simcox and his delegation heard concerns from two local Hispanic leaders.
"I'm not going to say you're not invited," said Goliad County Justice of the Peace Emilio Vargas. But the judge said he worried the presence of patrols could cause tension in Goliad County, which is home to just over 6,000 people, about a third of them Hispanic.
"We're a small community, and we can't afford to be polarized," Vargas said.
Vargas and local League of United Latin American Citizens representative Benny Martinez agreed with the Minutemen on some issues. They share the belief that the federal government needs to do more to protect Goliad County, and they agreed that the human smuggling was a menace.
But Martinez, whose family came to Goliad in 1731, said he was also very concerned about human rights abuses or racial profiling.
"I don't want to be walking down (the road) here and have you guys pick me up and send me to Tampico," Martinez said.
Simcox assured Martinez that his group will not apprehend anyone. The Minutemen will notify the Border Patrol when there are obvious signs of human smuggling.
"It's got nothing to do with race," he said.
About 200 miles from the border, Goliad County has become an increasingly important route for human smugglers who want to use backroads going from the border to Houston or San Antonio, according to Goliad County Sheriff Robert DeLa Garza.
Smugglers drive up FM 2441 through the community of Sarco just south of Goliad, he said. DeLa Garza's impound lot holds nearly 50 trucks and vans taken from human smugglers.
Residents in the Sarco area have started to organize their own network, which the sheriff described as being like a neighborhood block watch. DeLa Garza praised the work of the neighbors, and said he would not encourage outsiders to join them.
"My No. 1 concern is that I don't want anyone to get in harm's way," DeLa Garza said.
Area residents had a mixed reaction to the idea of organizing patrols. One Anglo rancher, who would not give his name, said he and many longtime residents have seen illegal immigrants pass through the area for decades and aren't worried about it.
But others are.
"I'm scared somebody's going to get hurt," said Rudy Vargas, no relation to the judge, who lives just north of Goliad County.
Susan Moore, who runs a shop in downtown Goliad, said she wants to hear what the Minutemen have to say. While many Goliad residents take pride in the community's heritage as a home to Hispanics, she said, there are concerns about the illegal immigrants.
"These days, it's not the same," Moore said of the immigration. "It's something to fear."
[email]edward.hegstrom@chron.com[/email]
2005-06-21 21:49 | User Profile
..."It's got nothing to do with race," he said.
hmmm, really ? To the mexicans it has a lot to do with race, no matter how much the gringos try to deny it.
Its good news that the minuitemen are coming to Texas, but sooner or later something must be done to address the hordes that have already made across the border. The minuitemen project, last i heard had plans to address employers of illegals, and this is a good first step in that direction.
2005-06-21 23:22 | User Profile
[QUOTE]Area residents had a mixed reaction to the idea of organizing patrols. One Anglo rancher, who would not give his name, said he and many longtime residents have seen illegal immigrants pass through the area for decades and aren't worried about it.[/QUOTE] He probably employs them.
2005-06-23 19:49 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Sertorius]He probably employs them.[/QUOTE] Yep.
2005-06-23 20:25 | User Profile
[QUOTE]But Martinez, whose family came to Goliad in 1731, said he was also very concerned about human rights abuses or racial profiling. [U]"I don't want to be walking down (the road) here and have you guys pick me up and send me to Tampico[/U]," Martinez said. [/QUOTE]
Too Bad it's not that simple.