Continuing its long tradition, the Minutemen organization is patrolling the border between Arizona and Mexico. It is an armed group of volunteers, who, according to Minutemen Project spokesperson Grey Deacon, aim to spot “criminals and terrorists.” It has been labeled by many groups as a racist organization — one that reflects the underlying social and economic tensions between Mexico and the United States.

By criminals, Deacon was referring to Mexican migrants, whom the Minutemen feel “steal” jobs once in the United States. (Cue “South Park’s” “They took our jobs!”) We are not sure how jobs can be stolen, especially under free trade agreements established by the governments of Mexico and the United States. Cherry pies and gasoline, as property, may be stolen — but not jobs. We also take issue with the Minutemen’s stated objective of stopping terrorists. Without having access to the training in language, behavioral profiling and other topics addressed by professionals, the Minutemen are reduced to looking for stereotypical features of terrorists such as an “Arab” appearance, which varies wildly, or Muslim religious practices.

With only a mission statement of stopping terrorists, it is no wonder that international terrorist Luis Posada Carriles was able to cross the border into the United States. Granted, it is not public whether Posada Carriles actually crossed over land watched by the Minutemen, but the fact that he has not been rejected by the U.S. government calls into question the point of even trying to stop well-known terrorists. Even if the Minutemen have honest intentions, which it appears they don’t, their efforts are largely futile when the government won’t do its part. Having minimal access to high-level training and maintaining only a small presence along the border, the Minutemen are unfortunately no match for a well-trained terrorist, should one not bother to take the time passing over through another border point.

Rather than stopping “criminals and terrorists,” it is more likely this armed vigilante group will degrade relations between Mexico and the United States and possibly end up running into violent confrontation with innocent migrants or protesters. Immigrants rights groups and other defenders of individual liberty are derided as “assisting the coyotes,” which isn’t helping.

It is good to see citizens taking up an interest in their own country, as the Minutemen are arguably doing. We take issue, however, with the hostile character of the group and question its motives. We feel the Minutemen should leave the work of protecting the border to the governments of Mexico and the United States.