Washington – The organizers of a group of volunteers who patrolled the Mexican border for illegal immigrants brought their “Minuteman Project” crusade to Washington on Wednesday, where they were welcomed by Congress’ top crusader on the issue, Rep. Tom Tancredo.
“I still believe that each of these folks speaks for thousands of Americans who feel the same way,” said Tancredo, R-Colo. “I call them heroes.”
About 750 volunteers spent at least one eight-hour shift in the field, patrolling a 23-mile stretch of desert along the border in Arizona to try to stem the flow across one of the country’s busiest illegal entry points.
Organizers said they’re doing what the government is failing to do by not guarding the border closely enough to keep illegal immigrants from crossing it regularly.
“We challenge the federal government to relieve us from duty,” organizer Chris Simcox said at a news conference attended by about 75 cheering supporters. “Will it take the blood of an American citizen, perhaps an 80-year-old grandmother sitting in a lawn chair, to get the attention of the president?”
President Bush criticized the participants as “vigilantes.”
Tancredo credited the Minuteman Project with forcing legislative victories on Capitol Hill for opponents of illegal immigration. Legislative leaders have said that provisions intended to curb illegal immigration will be included in a must-pass spending bill for Iraq and tsunami victims. The measure would prevent illegal immigrants from getting driver’s licenses, restrict asylum laws and speed construction of a proposed fence along part of the border.
“I can almost assure you we would not have gotten that if they were not out there,” Tancredo said.
The Minutemen thanked Tancredo for coming to speak to the group in Arizona when others were criticizing them.
Staff writer Mike Soraghan can be reached at 202-662-8730 or msoraghan@denverpost.com.
