Minutemen May Help Build Fence Along U.S.-Mexico Border

This is a partial transcript from "Hannity & Colmes," April 19, 2006, that has been edited for clarity.

ALAN COLMES, CO-HOST: Joining us now, on the phone from Nogales, Arizona, on the U.S. border with Mexico, the president of the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, Chris Simcox.

Chris, as you are talking to us, we're showing pictures of the border. And we thank you for being with us.

I understand the Minutemen are coming up — you've got some new plans. I wonder if you'd tell us about them?

CHRIS SIMCOX, PRESIDENT, MINUTEMEN CIVIL DEFENSE CORPS: Yes, we've been contacted by land owners and contractors. This has been in the works for awhile. But basically, I guess at this point, we're going to give the president an ultimatum to declare a state of emergency and deploy the National Guard and military reserves or by the 25th of May or Memorial Day weekend, we're going to break ground and we're going to start helping landowners to build a double layer security fence along their properties, because the federal government refuses to protect them.

COLMES: Now, up until now, you've said that your mission really is to spot illegals, report them to the authorities. This seems like a very definite sea change here, because you're saying you're now going to take action and do something. And I wonder if you're going to be able to be able to pull this off without the authorities deciding they don't want you oing that.

SIMCOX: Well, here's the issue. The authorities work for us. They're our employees. Every American, every poll that you read, all Americans want that border secured. President Bush sits idly on his hands and does nothing. And we have landowners that have been begging and pleading for help.

We're going to do fundraising and private enterprise, a private movement to start helping landowners by securing their properties and building a security fence.

SEAN HANNITY, CO-HOST: Chris, I understand that you have a lot of engineering companies, as far away, even, as Ohio, willing to volunteer their skills and their expertise. You're talking about private property. How much of the actual border, and this goes, you know, stretches from Texas to San Diego, how much of the border can actually be covered? And how much are you planning on covering in terms of private property?

SIMCOX: Well, it would certainly be piecemeal, because the federal government, of course, has bought up a lot of the land along the border, as well as the state governments have bought land. We'll look for it.

And basically, I guess, Sean, it's symbolic of the frustration of Americans. Americans need to help other Americans along the border. We're going to choose certain areas where we can build a double layer fence. If you go to weneedafence.com, you can see the model. And we also have it on our Wb site up.

It's a double layer security fence with a deep trench on one side so vehicles can't drive through it. And just to help private property owners have peace of mind to help them when the president and Congress refuse to.

COLMES: All right, Chris. We thank you for being with us tonight as we continue to look at some of these pictures along the border. We're following the story. And we thank you for your time.

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