[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E787-E788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SUPPORTING THE MINUTEMAN PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 27, 2005

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend the 
successes of the Minuteman Project whose efforts have helped shine 
light on the flood of aliens illegally entering our country each day 
and the many deficiencies in United States border security.
  It is an extraordinary event when citizens take it upon themselves to 
make a statement in such a profound manner, leaving their families and 
homes to travel to a remote area of

[[Page E788]]

the Arizona desert to stand watch at the border. For years, we have 
tried to contain the onslaught of illegal immigration and smuggling 
into the United States, but we have done so with too few personnel and 
with policies in place that have undermined these efforts and often 
aided those illegally present in our country. The Minuteman Project has 
shown us that we can be effective in securing our borders if we have 
the personnel and policies in place to do the job.
  In just seventeen days, the Minutemen proved that a few dedicated 
citizens could stifle a significant amount of illegal immigration. They 
peacefully, unobtrusively, and effectively assisted the United States 
Border Patrol to intercept numerous illegal border crossings. This was 
a neighborhood watch program at its finest.
  I want to thank the participants in the Minuteman Project for their 
concern for our country and for their willingness to disrupt their own 
lives to bring attention to an issue that Congress has not effectively 
addressed. They have stood their watch on America's border, now 
Congress must act decisively to expand the Border Patrol and close a 
hole in our border security that is wide open to those who would harm 
us.

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