World Magazine
Texas Minutemen are leading an all-volunteer assault on a migrant wave of crime that border-crossing federal agents can't—or won't—stop
FALFURRIAS, Texas -- It all started going downhill when they started cutting his fences. South Texas rancher Mike Vickers says two decades ago he had a good relationship with illegal immigrants who used to pass through his land. "They were respectful, asked for a job," he said. "We'd give them food and water and send them on. But it wasn't the big groups. It wasn't the invasion."
Now things are different. A nearby U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint has made his Texas ranch near Falfurrias a main track on an underground railroad where thousands of illegal immigrants move north. When Mr. Vickers isn't picking up trash from the previous night's train of immigrants—up to 100 every night—he's fixing holes cut into his fences by passing migrants. "Then there's the property damage—the absolute, uncontrolled destruction of property. Destroying water sources, vandalizing barns and houses, stealing horses. Tearing up whatever they come across. And trashing up your property," he says.
Posted by Richard at October 28, 2005