"Securing our borders...

Civilian monitors on both borders
By Jerry SeperTHE WASHINGTON TIMES October 1, 2005 immigration reform.

"We've written letters, sent faxes and e-mails, made countless calls and held town hall meetings about what is not just a public safety issue but a national security concern," Mr. Simcox said, describing his group's message to the government. "But we're done waiting for the government to do the job of securing our borders."

We have been waiting for the government to bring forth a solution to our growing illegal immigration problem. The bills working slowly through Congress are not acceptable to either side of the political spectrum. The Minutemen have been criticized; yet they have been effective. They have not caused any problem for law enforcement.

President Bush has denounced the volunteers as vigilantes. We take exception with the President at this point. The Minutemen have not assumed the authority of the law; but have assisted the law by reporting illegals to them.

It is past time for the government to secure our borders with trained people. We are at war. We salute the Minutemen for standing in the gap while our government comes to realize that we the people want secure borders.

We did not get millions of illegal aliens since 2000, nor were we at war when President Bush took office. He inherited both circumstances. We are not blaming him, we are asking him and Congress to secure our borders now. It is not asking to much for our government to stop illegal activity. We know it can be done, the Minutemen are providing the numbers. Rather than criticize them, lets replace them with trained agents.

Jerry Kilgore, Republican for Governor of Virginia, " opposes the use of taxpayer money to support and encourage illegal behavior. Kilgore opposes the awarding of government contracts, tax credits or other taxpayer-provided support for companies that hire illegal aliens."

Arnold Schwartzenegger, Republican Governor of California, "The governor stressed the Minutemen organization should be held to high standards." He went on to say that the Minutemen are there to report the illegals that the border patrol misses.