Tucson Citizen

Make no mistake about it.

The civilians who have been patrolling the U.S.-Mexican border as self-appointed enforcers of immigration laws are nothing but trouble.

They like to characterize themselves as guardians of private property who have more guts than the Border Patrol. But their behavior puts them in a class of bullies who pose more risks than solutions to border problems.

The latest volley in the war of words comes from the leader of Ranch Rescue, a group that patrols the border in what its leader says is an effort to stop crime. Jack Foote said his group will shoot members of the Mexican military who cross the border into the United States. "Two in the chest and one in the head," he said.

That's a chilling threat that runs counter to Arizona law: Deadly force is allowed only to protect someone from harm, or to prevent certain crimes involving property theft or damage, such as burglary or arson.

Under Arizona law, trespassing does not justify use of deadly force. Foote also accuses Mexican soldiers of being involved in the illegal drug trade. But even if that unproven allegation were true, it is not justification for firing upon soldiers who must be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

People who own property along the border have good reason to be upset with the poor job the U.S. government is doing to control the border. And Mexican soldiers must be exceptionally careful to observe the international boundary - even in areas where it is poorly defined.

But lining up trigger-happy vigilantes to ambush and kill Mexican soldiers who step onto private property in the United States is the worst way to deal with the problem. Adding armed and untrained civilians to an area that already includes armed Border Patrol agents and armed Mexican soldiers only increases dangers in an already dangerous area.

It is not always possible for authorities to respond quickly to reports of illegal incursions by Mexican soldiers. But waiting for authorities is far better than running the risk of killing the soldiers and further inflaming international passions.

Douglas Mayor Ray Borane said he fears such an incident would hinder U.S.-Mexico relations and attract more violent groups. That is a well-founded fear.

Law enforcement responsibilities must be left to trained and commissioned officers. Armed vigilantes must be stopped before they pull any triggers and further inflame border-area passions.