# And So It Begins - The Asshatery Of The Border Patrol **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 8, 2005, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379 "2005-04-08T12:47:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/1 "2005-04-08T12:47:19Z")
[http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050408003909990001](http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050408003909990001) > [@](#): > > TUCSON, Ariz. (April 7) - Authorities determined Thursday three volunteers involved in a civilian project to watch the border and report illegal crossers had an illegal immigrant pose for a flippant photograph but did not hold him against his will. > > The Mexican man had told sheriff’s deputies he was detained and forced to pose for a picture holding a T-shirt with a mocking slogan. A review of a 15-minute videotape provided by Bryan Barton, one of the three volunteers, showed the T-shirt the man was holding read: "Bryan Barton caught an illegal alien and all I got was this lousy T-shirt.’’ Barton was wearing an identical shirt. Wow. Good to see these guys are actually taking this job seriously. You know, with so much controversy surrounding this thing you think these people would be on their toes regarding this kind of behavior. While no laws were broken this time I would hate to think what could have happened if the illegal decided to use force to escape or what will happen in the future when the volunteers decided they want more than just a picture for a souvenir. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/2 "2005-04-08T12:54:56Z")
Am I the only one thinking about Homer Simpson’s vigilante crew? ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/3 "2005-04-08T13:28:30Z")
> [@](#): > > [Minutemen indeed > Thursday, February 24, 2005](http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2005/02/minutemen-indeed.html) > > Looks like those mighty militiamen planning to organize a group of “Minutemen” to patrol the U.S. border with Mexico may turn out to be a classic right-wing case of all hate, no cattle. > > According to a report by Michael Marizco at the Arizona Daily Star, the actual level of threat they pose, in terms of actually attracting the promised 550-man force, is not exactly dire: > > \*Organizers of the Minuteman Project say the scenario will become reality on April 1. > > But those organizers have made similar statements in the past, generating a steady barrage of newspaper and television stories. Meanwhile, law enforcement officials and other experts say they have failed to produce substantive results. > > ``` > And some wonder if anything will be different this time, especially since the organizers have failed to provide any proof of the involvement of 550 people they say have volunteered already*... > > ``` > > This is starting to sound more and more like the great militia summit that was planned for central Montana (near Lewistown, to be exact) around the time of the Freemen standoff, which was advertised as a chance for all the region’s Patriots to come together to talk strategy in the event of “another Ruby Ridge” in Jordan. > > Eight militiamen showed. They were outnumbered by the 15 reporters at the summit. * * * ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/4 "2005-04-08T14:03:02Z")
The ones who are really concerned are those people who kep having illegal immigrants come across their land. They find it creepy and annoying. I recall one infividual who recounted that he kep having them show up and watch him watching tv late at night, and he was quite freaked out by it. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/5 "2005-04-08T14:20:51Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Am I the only one thinking about Homer Simpson’s vigilante crew? I don’t watch the Simpsons, but Hank is probably about to ask Dale if they can all just go home now. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/6 "2005-04-08T16:37:52Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Am I the only one thinking about Homer Simpson’s vigilante crew? Do the Minutemen have to provide their own sack full of doorknobs? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/7 "2005-04-08T16:51:18Z")
> [@cornflakes](#): > > I don’t watch the Simpsons, but Hank is probably about to ask Dale if they can all just go home now. God, country and propane. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/8 "2005-04-08T18:15:43Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > Wow. Good to see these guys are actually taking this job seriously. You know, with so much controversy surrounding this thing you think these people would be on their toes regarding this kind of behavior. What, exactly, indicates that the border patrol is not doing their job? And in what way is anything at all wrong being done (other than the obvious illegal entry and the filing of a false police report)? They spotted and illegal and asked him to wear a funny T-shirt. He agreed. Case closed. If your point is that the border patrol should be watching each and every part of the border, well then you’re making the same point as the minutemen. They on’t and they can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/9 "2005-04-08T18:25:46Z")
> [@](#): > > If your point is that the border patrol should be watching each and every part of the border, well then you’re making the same point as the minutemen. They on’t and they can’t. Sorry, I am pitting the Minutemen for doing this, not the Border Patrol. My fault. [quote] What, exactly, indicates that the border patrol is not doing their job? And in what way is anything at all wrong being done (other than the obvious illegal entry and the filing of a false police report)? They spotted and illegal and asked him to wear a funny T-shirt. He agreed. Case closed.[/quoye] You say agreed, I say intimidated: > [@](#): > > The man alleged when he tried to get away, the volunteers ran in front of him and would not let him go by. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/10 "2005-04-08T18:26:55Z")
Damnit, that is some ugly coding. Can I get that fixed? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/11 "2005-04-08T18:34:11Z")
> [@furt](#): > > And in what way is anything at all wrong being done (other than the obvious illegal entry and the filing of a false police report)? They spotted and illegal and asked him to wear a funny T-shirt. He agreed. Case closed. If the illegal was just having a bit of fun with the t-shirt, it’s all good. If the illegal was threatened or pressured into being an object of their ridicule, then it’s NOT all good. Guess which one I think happened? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/12 "2005-04-08T19:11:04Z")
Were the minutemen giving the thumbs up sign? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/13 "2005-04-08T20:52:05Z")
[http://www.kfmb.com/stories/story.9439.html](http://www.kfmb.com/stories/story.9439.html) The story gets more interesting… > [@](#): > > Bryan Barton, a former UC San Diego student, is causing a stir after posing with a border crosser he detained while holding a T-shirt with a “flippant” statement on it. > > The T-shirt which reads, “Bryan Barton Caught Me Crossing the Border and All I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt”, also featured a similar message in Spanish, a picture of Barton, and a web address promoting Barton’s Republican bid for congress. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/14 "2005-04-08T21:08:21Z")
[Actually, the illegal immigrant was not held against his will.](http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050407/D89AOI5G0.html) They interviewed Barton on a radio station and he even stated that he gave this man water, bread, lunchmeat and $20 for later. Also, the event was on tape. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/15 "2005-04-08T21:15:13Z")
> [@Yeticus Rex](#): > > [Actually, the illegal immigrant was not held against his will.](http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050407/D89AOI5G0.html) > > They interviewed Barton on a radio station and he even stated that he gave this man water, bread, lunchmeat and $20 for later. Also, the event was on tape. Which of course, the OP already stated with the link. No harm, no foul. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/16 "2005-04-08T22:01:13Z")
If anyone wants to do the legwork, you oughta go Googling for this asshat, Bryan Barton. You think he made these t-shirts on the spot? Read about his career at UC San Diego. This incident is only about a future politician. The next incident, God forbid, will be about someone being shot. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/17 "2005-04-08T22:34:42Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > If anyone wants to do the legwork, you oughta go Googling for this asshat, Bryan Barton. You think he made these t-shirts on the spot? Read about his career at UC San Diego. This incident is only about a future politician. Young Master Barton features somewhat prominently in [this story](http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/05/31/cover-ziegler.php) (second half). ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/18 "2005-04-08T22:40:25Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > You say agreed, I say intimidated: Based on nothing other the man’s own account, which he himself has admitted he fabricated. Don’t let the facts hinder you … ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/19 "2005-04-08T22:51:07Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Based on nothing other the man’s own account, which he himself has admitted he fabricated. > > Don’t let the facts hinder you … Do you have a cite for that? The AP article does not mention the illegal admitting he fabricated anything. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379/20 "2005-04-09T05:21:19Z")
> [@furt](#): > > What, exactly, indicates that the border patrol is not doing their job? And in what way is anything at all wrong being done (other than the obvious illegal entry and the filing of a false police report)? They spotted and illegal and asked him to wear a funny T-shirt. He agreed. Case closed. Yeah, I’m sure that the Mexican man heartily agreed to wear their stupid T-shirt. I doubt that he felt the least bit afraid and intimidated at his situation. They probably all went out and had a beer together afterwards. :rolleyes: On a less sarcastic note, it tells me a lot about a person’s character to see how they treat someone over whom they assert control. Stopping the man from crossing into the US is one thing; humiliating him for laughs is an altogether different ball of wax. And some people continue to wonder why so many people throughout the world hate Americans. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-so-it-begins-the-asshatery-of-the-border-patrol/298379.md?page=2)