As politicians in Washington debate immigration policy, a small group of New Hampshire residents have begun taking action.
They feel the federal government is not doing enough to protect the country's borders.
So they're doing it themselves.
NHPR Correspondent Todd Wellington has the story.
ON A WARM SPRING SATURDAY, FIVE MEN TURNED THEIR CARS OFF THE MAIN ROAD IN WEST SEWARTSTOWN.
AND THEY DROVE ABOUT SEVEN MILES DOWN A DIRT ROAD.
THEY STOPPED AT A CLEARING THAT OVER-LOOKS A RIVER AND A WOODED SECTION OF THE US/CANADIAN BORDER.
ARMED WITH FOLDING CHAIRS AND WALKIE-TALKIES THE MEN SET-UP TWO OBSERVATION POSTS
AND THEY BEGAN TO WATCH AND WAIT.
-you in position down there?
um we're about maybe 50 yards up from where we were 2 weeks ago.
ok thanks
10-4
THAT’S GREG ROBERTS OF MERRIMACK CHECKING IN WITH JIM MADDEN OF DERRY .
MADDEN'S TAKEN A SPOT ABOUT 200-YARDS AWAY.
THEY ARE MINUTEMEN.
NEW HAMPSHIRE MINUTEMEN.
MEMBERS OF THE NEWEST CHAPTER OF THE ARIZONA-BASED GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT.
AND LIKE THEIR COMRADES IN THE SOUTHWEST, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE MINUTEMEN ARE TRYING TO SPOT PEOPLE ILLEGALLY ENTERING THE UNITED STATES.
CHAPTER LEADER RON OPLINUS OF EXETER ORGANIZED THE OPERATION.
THE RETIRED ENGINEER SAYS BORDER WATCHING CAN BE DONE WITH SOME PRETTY BASIC GEAR.
we keep a camera just in case there's something to see, binoculars generally, it depends, you don't really need them here, because you can see the border, we can see things. We're looking into doing a better radio system.
THE MINUTEMEN SEE THEMSELVES AS A SORT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH LOOKING OUT FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY..
BUT THEY ARE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN TO TAKE ACTION THEMSELVES.
LIKE THEIR MORE URBAN COUNTERPARTS, IF MEMBERS SPOT SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS THEY REPORT IT TO AUTHORITIES.
IN THIS CASE, THE U-S BORDER PATROL.
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE CHAPTER HAS 18 MEMBERS.
EACH HAS THEIR REASONS FOR JOINING.
I'm concerned #1 about homeland security. If the borders are either completely wide open or extremely porous, it's common sense you don't have homeland security.
THAT'S JIM MADDEN.
HE'S GOT OTHER CONCERNS AS WELL.
I have no problem working alongside a person from another country. But when the person from the other country is willing to work for a lot less, I cannot do it because I have a mortgage. Personnally I have a disabled wife and I have a 12 year old girl to look after, so I need what's called a living wage. I cannot compete with someone who's willing to work for cents on the dollar.
THE OTHERS IN THIS SMALL GROUP ECHO SIMILAR SENTIMENTS.
BUT AS UNHAPPY AS THE MINUTEMEN ARE WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, THEY SEEM TO BE JUST AS UNHAPPY WITH THE U-S GOVERNMENT FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.
THEY COMPLAIN THAT POLICY MAKERS IN WASHINGTON HAVE LEFT THE BORDER PATROL CHRONICALLY UNDERSTAFFED.
MINUETMAN RON BRANGA MADE THE TRIP NORTH FROM THE TOWN OF TROY.
HE SAYS THE GROUP KNOWS IT CAN’T SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY ITSELF.
BUT THE FINANCIAL SERVICES WORKER SAYS THEY DO HOPE THEIR PRESENCE SERVES AS A DETERENT TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – AND AS A KIND OF POLITICAL ACTION.
Branga: If we bring awareness to the problem , the government puts more federal border control agents on the ground, it'll stop, so if you maximize or increase the size of the border control, we don't have to do this. It's not that they're doing a bad job, it's just that there's not enough of them.
BUT THESE MINUTEMEN HAVE A FEW OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR FEDERAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES.
RON OPLINUS SAYS ENFORCING CURRENT LAWS AGAINS HIRING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WOULD BE A BIG HELP
HE ALSO SAYS HE COULD SUPPORT INCREASING QUOTAS FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATION IF THE COUNTRY REALLY NEEDS THE ADDITIONAL LABOR.
BUT HE OPENLY CRINGES AT THE SUGEGSTION OF AMESTY PROGRAMS.
CUT: it's an abomination, its an insult to this country and to all the legal immigrants here.
NATIONALLY THE MINUTEMEN CLAIM SEVEN-TO-TEN THOUSAND ACTIVE MEMBERS.
MOST OF THEM ARE IN THE SOUTHWEST WHERE ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS HAPPEN MANY TIMES A DAY.
ITS MUCH QUIETER UP NORTH.,
NEW HAMPSHIRE FALLS WITHIN THE BORDER PATROL’S SWANTON SECTOR – WHICH RUNS FOR 295 MILES BETWEEN UPSTATE NEW YORK AND NORTHERN MAINE.
SINCE LAST OCTOBER AGENTS THERE HAVE ARRESTED ABOUT 200 PEOPLE FOR SUSPECTED BORDER VIOLATIONS.
OPLINUS SAYS THE SOUTHERN BORDER MAY BE BUSIER BUT THE STAKES IN THE NORTH ARE THE SAME
CUT-this is not a job I want to be doing, I would prefer not to be doing it, but somebody's got to do it, I'm here until the federal government makes it unnecessary for me to do it.
BORDER PATROL OFFICLAS SAY THAT, SO FAR, THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE MINUTEMEN IN THE SWANTON SECTOR.
THEY ALSO SAY THAT, SO FAR, THEY HAVEN’T RECEIVED ANY TIPS FROM THE GROUP EITHER.
FOR N-H-P-R NEWS, I’M TODD WELLINGTON
Along the NY State Thruway, the State Police park patrol cars, that are inoperative or past their useful lives, at the toll plazas. Most people realize that they are empty, but can't be sure whether an officer is nearby. It makes people pay attention to their driving.
I wonder if police cars parked at unmanned border crossings would make illegal immigrants take notice and change their plans.
Better yet, excess or obsolete Armored Personnel Carriers (I imagine the NH Army National Guard may have some) would make a bigger impression. What do you think - would it help? Art H