Los Angeles, CA - Minuteman Project Founder Jim Gilchrist has announced a month-long border protection event for April. Thousands of Minuteman volunteers will converge on our nation's southwestern border to do the job the government should be doing.
It was one year ago that Gilchrist raised the bold call for average citizens to take our nation's security in their own hands. During April 2005, the Minuteman Project covered 23 miles of the Arizona border. In the course of the one-month border watch, thousands of illegal crossings were reported, while there were no official reports of improper conduct by any member of the Minuteman Project.
In the past year, the Minuteman Project has heightened the national debate on illegal immigration and focused unprecedented attention on the nation's open borders in a post-9/11 world. Every year, millions of illegal aliens cross our southern border, as do unknown quantities of illegal drugs and potential terrorists.
As in the past, the Minutemen will observe and report suspected illegal alien border crossings to Border Patrol officers without engaging suspected aliens.
All Minutemen are trained to follow a strict "no contact" policy. The only exception is for emergency humanitarian relief by providing water to those found in distress.
"We will have up to 7,000 everyday American citizens doing the job the federal government is supposed to be doing," said Gilchrist. "We have shown, with a little political will, that our border can be secured and our nation can be safer. It is time Congress heard the message."
The operation will last the entire month of April and will cover all of the southwestern border states. Jim Gilchrist will personally lead Minuteman volunteers as they protect our southern border.
CONTACT: Tim Bueler
(530) 401-3285
www.minutemanproject.com