Suit claims ranchers acting as border agents
Daniel González
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 11, 2003 12:00 AM

Armed ranchers in southern Arizona are impersonating Border Patrol agents to apprehend undocumented immigrants, trespassing on private property and creating a climate of fear and intimidation along the border with Mexico, according to a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday by a human rights group.

The lawsuit, filed by the Tucson-based Border Action Network, comes at a time when armed civilian groups continue to patrol the border to apprehend undocumented immigrants.

The lawsuit filed against Cochise County rancher Roger Barnett, his wife, Barbara, and a relative, Ralph Barnett, demands that the federal government stop them from apprehending undocumented immigrants. The Barnetts have claimed publicly in the past that they have apprehended thousands of migrants and turned them over to Border Patrol agents.

"The Barnetts represent in a sense the most protected of the groups. They've been around the longest, they're from Arizona, and they've been promoting these activities for a long time," Dan Krehbiel, a Border Action Network community organizer said Wednesday at a news conference at the state Capitol.

Krehbiel said the group filed the lawsuit after lobbying Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard to investigate and prosecute the groups for more than a year to no avail. Krehbiel was joined at the news conference by three Arizona lawmakers, state Reps. Ben Miranda, a Phoenix Democrat, and Tucson Democrats Tom Prezelski and Ted Downing.

"Vigilante violence has no place in civilized society. Patriotic Americans use the ballot box, not the powder box, to vent frustrations," Downing said.

The Barnetts did not return a phone message. Goddard could not be reached for comment. A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton said the suit would be reviewed and he would "take appropriate action."

The lawsuit won't stop armed civilian groups from apprehending undocumented immigrants, said Chris Simcox, director of the Tombstone-based Civil Homeland Defense, a civilian patrol group, and publisher of the Tombstone Tumbleweed weekly newspaper.

By apprehending undocumented immigrants, armed groups like his are exercising their right to protect private property from the "hordes" of migrants who cross the border illegally and are making a "political statement" that the federal government has failed to enforce immigration laws, Simcox said.

"It's up to the government to solve this," Simcox said. "If they don't do this we're going to force them to do it by doing it ourselves."

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Tucson in conjunction with International Human Rights Day, accuses the Barnetts of apprehending a group of 30 undocumented immigrants Oct. 11 on a ranch in Cochise County owned by Donald Mackenzie.

Mackenzie claims in the lawsuit that he encountered the Barnetts at one of the wells on his ranch and that he mistook Roger Barnett for a Border Patrol agent because he was wearing a cap with a U.S. Border Patrol emblem and hunting clothes "indistinguishable" from clothes worn by Border Patrol agents.

[rolleyes]

Now they don't even want us subjects to protect our PRIVATE property???

This is just unbelievable.

It is called self defense guys, when your government won't protect your borders, sometimes you have to do it yourslef.

Traitorous motherfuckers!

The assholes who are filing the suit should be the ones with their backs against the wall for giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

Yes, I use the term “enemy”.  Mexican armed forces have crossed the border on numerous occasions. An armed force crossing the borders of a sovereign nation is committing an act of war.  Mexico does nothing to stop and even encourages it citizens to enter the U.S. illegally.  After all, Vincente Fox admitted that people sending money back to Mexico accounts for $14 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR making it the number one source of income for Mexico.

The fucking Feds won’t do jack shit about this (and after seeing Ridge’s statement yesterday, I finally understand why).

Whining bunch of pussy asswipes.  “Oh, my goodness we might frighten all the poor undocumented workers trying to cross the border to make a better life for themselves.  We must put a stop to the mean, nasty redneck Neanderthal militia gun whackos who just might keep these oppressed people from doing what they want.”

[RED][B]YOU ARE A TRAITOR TO YOUR NATION.  DO US ALL A FAVOR... FUCK OFF AND DIE!![/B][/RED]

The only thing I see that is wrong with what the Barnett's are doing is wearing the Border Patrol gear (if that is accurate) as there might be some sort of "impersonation of an officer" charge in the wings (don't know, just guessing). Other than that, in a court of law, what the hell rights does an illegal immigrant have other than "basic human rights"?

CW

If the federal, state and local authorities can not or will not take action to prevent trespass, often criminal trespass by illegal aliens, on land owned by American citizens, then it damn well ought to be the right...nay the FUCKING DUTY of those same American citizens to protect their land and in so doing the territory of the United States and of their home state by taking such action as is necessary to prevent such trespass, INCLUDING the use of firearms, if necessary.

If I were President, I'd stop kissing Vicente Fox's ass and I'd create some REAL borders to stop this crap and the dope trafficking.  I'd use whatever personnel and equipment assets were needed to accomplish the job, including private citizens, deputized of course.  Maybe then it might stop?

I am sick and fucking tired of hearing this constant drumbeat about illegal incursions by Latino aliens and by Mexican dopers and police (Aren't they one and the same?) into America.

I get enraged every time I read or hear one of these purported "Undocumented Worker" advocates blab on about how fucked up everything is for their poor peons.  Tough shit y'all were born in a shithole.  If those bozos would ever cure their fucking political and economic problems, maybe they could become a legitimate world power too.  The big problem with Mexico is her class-stratified society, her rampant crime and deeply rooted socialism.  Her economy sucks just as it has for centuries.  Her caste society doesn't much allow for novi homini to work their way to the top as easily as we can here.  Crime and banditry is rampant just as it was before the damn Revolution!  American and English investors didn't want to tap the fertile market in the early 19th century for the same reason investors today don't pour money into Mexico.  The crooks and cops control everything.  Everybody is on the arm.  The place sucks...so people migrate north and they fucking still blame US for the lousy Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo!  Screw them all.

TO THE BARRICADES!  It's time to arm the Citizens and keep out the furriners!

yes, lets all just stop this terrorizing the poor, helpless immigrants - after all, our POTUS is considering (according to our Homeland security director) legalizing the millions of illegals in this country, as we speak. (spoken sarcastically!)
i have true conservative beliefs - free trade, free market economy, smaller and less invasive government, lower and fairer (flat) taxes, strong national defense, etc.  
and, i voted for president bush cause he was the only game in town.  this liberal social policy and political game playing drives me nuts!
10 to 1, the Border Action Network is funded partly by your tax dollars, probably thru grants, and is full of liberal democrats.  i guess my rant up above is to show that the neo-cons are almost as bad.  
something seriously wrong if we can't defend our own turf.

The asswipes have a website:

http://www.borderaction.org/

[red]link left cold[/red]

[pissed]

MOTHER FUCKERS!

What were armed uniformed trespassers doing on Mackenzie's ranch without his knowledge?  If he didn't ivite them on his ranch, is the consensus that he should forcibly eject them?  Or is it just the unarmed trespassers that the government should be concerned with??

I sent those idiots a reasonably worded email ([email protected]) telling them they were basically a bunch of losers detached from reality.

First off, theey are here illegally - they are crossing illegally - by doing so they are breaking the law - damn straight there should be a climate of fear and intimidation ... If I were breaking into my neighbors house I'd be fearful!

I've been talking it up around here that there should be a volunteer group (hmm, a "well trained malitia, maybe?) that can sand guard at the borders - everyone rotates one or two 8 hour shifts a week - and then our service men, and some of the border guards can do other duty - like following up real leads in real investigations...

The problem with this is it makes too much sense - so it'll never happen.

The amigo's should be happy I'm not hunting them. [:|]

[img]http://www.kenanderson.net/delta/db_dead_mexican_bandits1.jpg[/img]

You guys need to know the president along with congress don't give the slightest shit about the immigration problem. It only effects a half a dozen states and the other 44 won't vote to spend money to help. The real bullshit in this is that the federal government won't allow the states to protect themselves. Also the liberal judges give the illegal (the main thing being illegal) immigrants more fucking rights than you or I have. I think wearing the Border Patrol uniforms is the only thing that they might get in trouble for but by wearing them they probable cut down allot on hassles with the immigrants. I wish them all of the luck in their fight but it is a loser unless the federal government gets on board.

Bingo. If these ranchers were on someone else's property without permission, that was wrong.

Protect your own property and get permission from others if you want to protect theirs.

....for those who are saying these guys are wearing BP uniforms, should ask someone who knows.........., ME !!!

they are wearing green pants & green shirts, plus a funny looking hat..., NO patches or insignia, no steenking badges or other devices that may be construed as imitating the BP !!!!!

so.., is there a law against wearing green clothing similar to the BPs green ?????

Anyone have information on a legal defense fund?  

Mike

Exactly. Them going on someone elses property, without the owners permission, is no diffrent than the illegals. I do agree with the premis of RR, and what they are trying to do. However, I do question many of their tactics. Personally, were I doing this, I would want to keep things as absolutely low profile and quiet as possible, for a number of reasons.

Tell the people in the other 44 states it doesn't effect them on April 15th.

Hell, it took the powder box to secure the other. Jerks!

This is Roger Barnett NOT Ranch Rescue.  Barnett has been rounding up tresspassers on his ranch for many years.

IF he tracked a group onto someone elses property then he was tresspassing himself.

Is Mackenzie aiding illegals?  YES

AR-15NUTT is correct sometimes te Barnetts dress in color schemes similar to USBP.  But no official insignia is used.

This may seem sinister to some but this practice probably lessens the chance of any resistance that could result in injury.

If they went out wearing pink tutus someone would throw rocks and end up getting hurt.

Biggame223

Out

Couple of years ago I checked into Ranch Rescue and what it takes to join. Seem to remember that they SPECIFICALLY FORBID any camo uniforms, they insist you wear tan BDUs with NO OTHER insignia except theirs. They allow you to carry a weapon (sidearm only).
Please feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken.
If Barnett is wearing BP-similar uniforms, more power to him if it works. Oddly, though, I can't see why more border ranch owners aren't helping (they don't consider themselves "front line defense?" unless, maybe, they've got a few Juans [wave] and Juanitas [sex] stashed themselves.

When I inquired I was encouraged to bring my CCW and an AR-15 with plenty of ammo.  I was encouraged to bring my protection trained rottweiler as well.

I almost hooked up with those guys and now I'm glad I didn't.  I had all kinds of private messages saying how much trouble they are getting themselves into down there.  Supposed alien abuse or some bullshit like that.

Damnit,  my dog likes Mexican food too.

AFAIK RR has always allowed longarms, and camo was authorised IF there was a chance of encountering hostiile drug smugglers or the objective was strictly obdervation and not apprehension.

The wearing of NON camo was to ward of "Rambo Wannabe" comments from media and naysayers,  but the fact is it does not matter.  You will be demonized regardless.

As for border ranch owners "not helping" many have their own "ranch patrols" they just dont advertise what they do.  Unfortunately when you advertise you get targeted for litigation and persecution.

The BAN crowd and others want these groups stopped because they put the issue on the front page.......silent invasions do NOT want advertisement.

Once the public border watchers are sued or imprisoned into silence the discreet ones will be next.

Biggame223

Out

I think it's time grizzly bears were reintroduced to the American southwest.

CRC