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February 10, 2009
16 Illegals Sue Arizona Rancher
Line of illegals moving across Roger Barnett's ranch, Cochise County, Arizona, on the Arizona-Mexican border.
16 illegals sue Arizona rancher
Claim violation of rights as they crossed his land
An Arizona man who has waged a 10-year campaign to stop a flood of illegal immigrants from crossing his property is being sued by 16 Mexican nationals who accuse him of conspiring to violate their civil rights when he stopped them at gunpoint on his ranch on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Roger Barnett, 64, began rounding up illegal immigrants in 1998 and turning them over to the U.S. Border Patrol, he said, after they destroyed his property, killed his calves and broke into his home.
His Cross Rail Ranch near Douglas, Ariz., is known by federal and county law enforcement authorities as "the avenue of choice" for immigrants seeking to enter the United States illegally.
Trial continues Monday in the federal lawsuit, which seeks $32 million in actual and punitive damages for civil rights violations, the infliction of emotional distress and other crimes. Also named are Mr. Barnett's wife, Barbara, his brother, Donald, and Larry Dever, sheriff in Cochise County, Ariz., where the Barnetts live. The civil trial is expected to continue until Friday.
The lawsuit is based on a March 7, 2004, incident in a dry wash on the 22,000-acre ranch, when he approached a group of illegal immigrants while carrying a gun and accompanied by a large dog.
Attorneys for the immigrants - five women and 11 men who were trying to cross illegally into the United States - have accused Mr. Barnett of holding the group captive at gunpoint, threatening to turn his dog loose on them and saying he would shoot anyone who tried to escape.
The immigrants are represented at trial by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), which also charged that Sheriff Dever did nothing to prevent Mr. Barnett from holding their clients at "gunpoint, yelling obscenities at them and kicking one of the women."
In the lawsuit, MALDEF said Mr. Barnett approached the group as the immigrants moved through his property, and that he was carrying a pistol and threatening them in English and Spanish. At one point, it said, Mr. Barnett's dog barked at several of the women and he yelled at them in Spanish, "My dog is hungry and he's hungry for buttocks."
The lawsuit said he then called his wife and two Border Patrol agents arrived at the site. It also said Mr. Barnett acknowledged that he had turned over 12,000 illegal immigrants to the Border Patrol since 1998.
In March, U.S. District Judge John Roll rejected a motion by Mr. Barnett to have the charges dropped, ruling there was sufficient evidence to allow the matter to be presented to a jury. Mr. Barnett's attorney, David Hardy, had argued that illegal immigrants did not have the same rights as U.S. citizens.
Mr. Barnett told The Washington Times in a 2002 interview that he began rounding up illegal immigrants after they started to vandalize his property, northeast of Douglas along Arizona Highway 80. He said the immigrants tore up water pumps, killed calves, destroyed fences and gates, stole trucks and broke into his home.
Some of his cattle died from ingesting the plastic bottles left behind by the immigrants, he said, adding that he installed a faucet on an 8,000-gallon water tank so the immigrants would stop damaging the tank to get water.
Mr. Barnett said some of the ranch´s established immigrant trails were littered with trash 10 inches deep, including human waste, used toilet paper, soiled diapers, cigarette packs, clothes, backpacks, empty 1-gallon water bottles, chewing-gum wrappers and aluminum foil - which supposedly is used to pack the drugs the immigrant smugglers give their "clients" to keep them running.
He said he carried a pistol during his searches for the immigrants and had a rifle in his truck "for protection" against immigrant and drug smugglers, who often are armed.
A former Cochise County sheriff´s deputy who later was successful in the towing and propane business, Mr. Barnett spent $30,000 on electronic sensors, which he has hidden along established trails on his ranch. He searches the ranch for illegal immigrants in a pickup truck, dressed in a green shirt and camouflage hat, with his handgun and rifle, high-powered binoculars and a walkie-talkie.
His sprawling ranch became an illegal-immigration highway when the Border Patrol diverted its attention to several border towns in an effort to take control of the established ports of entry. That effort moved the illegal immigrants to the remote areas of the border, including the Cross Rail Ranch.
"This is my land. I´m the victim here," Mr. Barnett said. "When someone´s home and loved ones are in jeopardy and the government seemingly can´t do anything about it, I feel justified in taking matters into my own hands. And I always watch my back."
Wild Thing's comment..........
The illegals lawsuit should have been thrown out of court the first day! They have been trashing his land, killing his stock, threatening his family, and breaking into his house.
This man should be sworn in as a US Deputy Marshall and given a band of men under him to do the job. He seems to be the only man standing between us and illegals.
.
....Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
Posted by Wild Thing at February 10, 2009 04:48 AM
Comments
"My dog is hungry and he's hungry for buttocks."
Oh man, I love this guy.
SSgt Steve
1st MarDiv, H Co., 2nd Bn, 5th Marine Regiment
2/5 Marines, Motto: "Retreat, Hell"
VN 66-67
Posted by: Steve, Hungry, Hungry, Hippo at February 10, 2009 07:23 AM
There go the 16 absentee voters for Obama? Sorry Lynn, your relatives at the Alamo (189 Texans) didn't kill enough of Santa Anna's future landscapers! "YES WE CAN / SI WE CAN" will be defended by Bill Richardson, the DNC, and the ACLU, si? Maybe they can clear the BrUSH in Crawford for W?
- Come And Take It 1836 / 2009!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at February 10, 2009 08:55 AM
Wouldn't have this problem if he had just shot 'em.
Posted by: Duane at February 10, 2009 09:38 AM
This shows that ranchers only need to remember one thing: Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up.
Posted by: BobF at February 10, 2009 09:38 AM
Oh wow Bobf, now that's an idea...it would only work as long as none of the 12,000 get away to tell their story...When you cross a barrier, cut a fence, and enter someones land, you should give up all your rights. This lawsuit is outrageous, offensive, and a shame that the US government cant even police it's own borders, instead relying on private citizens to do their work for them, then standing by to watch the lynching. This guy will lose everything he has worked so hard for just paying for his defense. WildThing was correct, they should have thrown this out. All over a bunch of Mexicans who come here to shit all over us, drain our Welfare system, and make more Mexican babies at our expense. I'm sick of this!
Posted by: Redneck at February 10, 2009 10:07 AM
He needs to petition the Obama dictatorsh...er..I mean the Obama regime for funds to clean up "an environmental hazard" on his property. If my neighbor trashed my property, the law would make him pay restitution and may even jail him for criminal conduct. Here, however, we have a case where illegal aliens (that is, CRIMINALS) trespass on this guy's land, trash it,and steal from him and the government does nothing. Yup, shoot, shovel and shut up...I like it.
Posted by: PeteSuj at February 10, 2009 10:29 AM
Socialism at work. Take away free speech, take away guns and now take away property rights. I will forever hold it against George W Bush that he condoned and even supported illegal migration across our sacred borders. I am sure he would be upset if large groups of illegals trashed his Crawford ranch, but he has Secret Service to prevent that.
Roger Barnett is an American of the old traditional school. I wish I had the ability to go and help him protect his land and our border. Damn the sorry assed politicians who allow this illegal immigration just so they can get future voters and their business cronies can get cheap labor.
Posted by: TomR at February 10, 2009 11:01 AM
Roger Barnett needs a good backhoe and more ammo and surely there is a place on the ranch for U.S. District Judge John Roll and those MALDEF lawyers.
Of course a good wood chipper would ease the costs of fertilizer.
The best deterrent I've ever seen was that displayed at the non PC ROK compound where 'trespassers' had their heads on display at the front gate.
Posted by: Jack at February 10, 2009 11:52 AM
BobF is absolutely right....Shoot - Shovel - Shut Up!!!! Dead people can't testify!!! Besides, the local wildlife and rodents need to be fed too!!!!!
And yes, Bush promoted this crap by not taking a stronger stance on illegal aliens.
This should send a clear message to all other border ranchers......Shoot - Shovel - Shut Up!!!!!
Posted by: John at February 10, 2009 02:18 PM
Darth, Here's a Flag for you.
http://www.texasflag.us/texas_downloads/Browns-Flag-of-Independence-flag.gif
Posted by: JohnE PFC U.S. Army at February 10, 2009 07:30 PM
Its all starting to come apart now. Property rights, personal rights, gun rights that has got to be the next big slam against the American people.
Posted by: Mark at February 10, 2009 07:54 PM
10-4 John and wonderful training (USAF) in Texas and Altus Oklahoma (1977 & 1983)! When I saw a Longhorn up close and for the first time, I was in awe!
- God Bless Texas!!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at February 10, 2009 07:58 PM
Steve, Hungry, Hungry, Hippo , thanks for the service information. I will change it on the thank you I use when you send me things.
LOL I agree, I loved what he said. hahahahahaha
""My dog is hungry and he's hungry for buttocks."
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 11, 2009 02:18 AM
Thank you everyone for your comments and thank you Mark for this article and information.
I miss our America so much.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 11, 2009 02:22 AM
Hell Obviously I must have a case myself for infringement of my rights,just imagine the wait and abuse and harassment these poor illagels DON'T get coming in legally. I go through Customs and immagrations and always detained for a passport check never fails and I was Born here In the US of A ......oh wait they tell me I'm Caucassion though hmmmm
GASSTOP !PAPERS :: PAPERS :: WHERE ARE YOUR PAPERS ....... I mean your Pass port~
After all we are a Kindler gentler society now. Aren't we ?
Posted by: Alibaster at February 12, 2009 07:52 PM
