Border securityNeo-Nazi militia patrols Arizona desert
Various volunteer-based groups patrol the Arizona desert and report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol, and generally they have not caused problems; Arizona law enforcement authorities are worried about the latest addition: a local neo-Nazi militia; members of the militia are outfitted with military fatigues, body armor, and assault rifles — and openly proclaim that only non-Jewish, white heterosexual people should be American citizens and that everyone who is not white should leave the country — “peacefully or by force”
Here is a disturbing story: Minutemen groups, a surge in Border Patrol agents, and a tough new immigration law are not enough for a reputed neo-Nazi who is now leading an armed militia in the Arizona desert.
The Associated Press reports that Jason Ready has decided to take matters into his own hands, declaring war on what he calls “narco-terrorists” and keeping an eye out for illegal immigrants. So far, he said, his patrols have found only a few border crossers, who were given water and handed over to the Border Patrol. Once, they found a decaying body in a wash, and alerted the authorities.
Local law enforcement officials are worried, however, given that Ready’s group is heavily armed and identifies with the National Socialist Movement, an organization that believes that only non-Jewish, white heterosexual people should be American citizens and that everyone who is not white should leave the country — “peacefully or by force.”
“We’re not going to sit around and wait for the government anymore,” Ready said. “This is what our founding fathers did.”
AP notes that an escalation of civilian border watches has taken root in Arizona in recent years. Various groups patrol the desert and report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol, and generally they have not caused problems.
Ready, a 37-year-old ex-Marine, is different, though. He and his friends are outfitted with military fatigues, body armor, and assault rifles. Ready takes offense at the term “neo-Nazi,” but admits he identifies with the National Socialist Movement.
Ready is a reflection of the anger over illegal immigration in Arizona. Governor Jan Brewer signed a new immigration law in April that requires police officers, while enforcing other laws, to question a person’s immigration status if officers have a reasonable suspicion that the person is in the country illegally.
Sheriff Paul Babeu of Pinal County said there had not been any episodes with Ready’s group in his jurisdiction. He said he was concerned, though, because an untrained group acting without the authority of the law could cause “extreme problems” and put itself and others in danger.
“I’m not inviting them. And in fact, I’d rather they not come,” Sheriff Babeu said. “Especially those who espouse hatred or bigotry such as his,” he said of Ready.
Ready said he is planning patrols throughout the summer. “If they don’t want my people out there, then there’s an easy way to send us home: secure the border,” he said. “We’ll put our guns back on the shelf, and that’ll be the end of that.”
