Minuteman Project: Civilian Patrol on Border Road

When I documented Minuteman volunteers on patrol last February, volunteers openly expressed a phobic attitude toward other races and cultures, particularly Latin American culture. Their anxiety was rooted in an inherent fear of the unknown. Volunteers believe immigrants will someday dominate United States culture and politics, perhaps replacing traditional American culture with their own. In addition, during conversations with volunteers, illegal immigrants were singled-out and blamed for the increase in both crime and disease in Arizona. For instance, a middle-aged female volunteer claimed that all illegal immigrants had criminal histories and were responsible for spreading disease, such as leprosy, in Arizona. Research conducted by the Arizona Department of Health Services has averaged less than one case of leprosy per year in the last five years. In spite of these facts, volunteers still hold onto the irrational belief that illegal immigrants are adversely affecting public health in Arizona. As I left Border Road and the volunteers that day, I wondered what was really happening behind the scenes. What was the real interaction between Minuteman Project volunteers and immigrants when nobody was looking?