Minuteman National Blog

Minuteman Civil Defense Corp - Incident Report

Area: Falfurrias Texas
Date: Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Location: Line 3 – Post 9

At 21:30 a Minuteman volunteer, using Generation III Night Vision (GEN-III NV) was scanning for activity to the SE while three other Minutemen were scanning South at a suspected entry area. Light activity was spotted by the Minuteman around a tree approximately 500 yards SE (145°) of his post via the GEN-III NV at 21:35 and later at 21:40. The Minuteman radioed the nearest post on his Line 3 at Post 4 to inquire if anyone at Post 4 had seen the light and checked if they were using Infrared (IR) Illumination towards that tree. Neither was the case so the Minuteman volunteer asked Post 4 to watch to their South for the light.

The Minuteman then asked two others to monitor that same tree to the SE and one of the others also saw the lights with a GEN-I NV. It was at that time one of the others was able to see the light without NV and then we knew it was a visible flash light rather than an IR source used with NV. While GEN-III NV was handed back and forth between two of the Minutemen, both noticed two individuals moving from the tree with the light activity onto a freshly mowed sunflower field that the landowner had shredded just before sunset that day. The Minutemen counted four (4) individuals moving towards them at a distance of around 300-400 yards at 22:00. The image was clear enough to see them walking upright and one Minuteman could see the spaces between their legs as they walked.

It was at this point the Minuteman walked back up the hill for better radio reception and called Post 4 at 22:10 to help him relay the message to Base that we have spotted and confirmed 4 individuals moving from the SE towards our Post 9. The Minuteman was informed that Border Control (BP) was on the way. He kept in radio communication with the other Minuteman back at Post 9 observation location who was constantly monitoring and counting the individuals. As the first BP officer showed up with lights out at 22:15, the Minuteman met the officer, quickly introduced himself as a MCDC Minuteman volunteer and gave the officer a count of individuals, their heading of SE (145°) and their distance of approximately 300 yards. BP officer then walked directly to the specified location of the individuals and Minuteman rejoined the other two Minutemen back at the Post 9 observation point.

One of the Post 9 Minutemen informed the others that the individual count had grown to 6 and that they were starting to hide in the uncut section of the field and along small groups of trees. They then observed with the GEN-III NV the BP officer walking to the North of the hidden group missing them by only 100 yards. The Minuteman then saw that the BP office was using only a lower level GEN-II or even GEN-I NV since he was using IR illumination that projected less then 25 yards.

This is when the Minutemen realized that the BP officer would not be able to see the hidden group and we could not radio him to direct him to their hidden locations since we do not have common radio communications with the BP.

Then at around 22:20 a second BP officer (BP#2) arrived back at the road, the Minuteman met him and this time brought him directly back to our Post 9 observation point. They then pointed out the individual’s hidden location and handed BP#2 our GEN-III NV for him to see them.

BP#2 said, “WOW! You can see everything with this! This is incredible!” The Minutemen were surprised to hear this and it became obvious that at least these BP officers do not have access to GEN-III NV to do their dangerous and critical jobs which is an abomination.

BP#2 then headed out directly to their hidden location and again walked right past them. After BP#2 had walked 200 yards a Minuteman saw an individual crawl from left of the mowed field to the right brush less then 100 yards BEHIND the BP#2 officer. Then a Minuteman observed another running in a swatch again behind the BP#2 from right to left. The Minuteman went back up the hill to radio Base and Post 4 to inform BP headquarters to radio the BP#2 officer that the individuals are passing and crawling behind him.

BP#1 officer gave up his search around 22:35, telling us he found nothing, and then left. BP#2 drove around with the spot light searching the fields but not one was found. BP#2 then came back by our position informing us he never saw a thing, but told us if we see then again to call and they will return. BP#2 said he had another call to attend to so we thanked him for his service to our country and he left around 22:45.

For the next hour from 23:00 to 00:00 the Minutemen noticed at least one individual hiding near the brush and then migrating back to the SE. At around 2AM two Minutemen saw flashlight activity again well over 1000 yards away near trees to the SE (150°). It is thought that the scatter group retreated to the SE and regrouped at the farther tree to wait us out for another attempt to migrate North.

We radioed Post 4 to watch for them to their South. The operation ended at 02:30 so we packed up and went back to base.

What We Learned:

Next time we have a sighting with GEN-III NV and the BP show up stealth, we need to bring the BP officer FIRST to our observation point and hand them our high performance NV device. This will enable the BP to actually see what we are seeing and exactly where we are seeing it. Then the BP will really believe we are observing actual migrant activity, have an accurate headcount, location, and landscape reference point to proceed with apprehension.

We could even go farther by temporary loaning him the equipment after noting his name and/or BP badge number so he can use it for the capture.