LUKE TURF

A state representative and a retired Border Patrol chief are among expected speakers Saturday at a rally to support militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border.
American Border Patrol, a Sierra Vista-based group that documents suspected illegal immigration in Arizona and broadcasts it on the Internet, organized the rally.

The group's president, Glenn Spencer, said he plans to deliver about 100,000 petition signatures in favor of putting the military on the border to stop illegal immigrants and potential terrorists from entering the country. He will deliver the petitions to the federal building, 300 W. Congress St., after the 2-4 p.m. rally at El Presidio Park, just west of the Old Pima County Courthouse, 115 N. Church Ave.

"We're trying to get the people of the federal government to come in (on Saturday)," he said "If not, it'll be a symbolic presentation on the steps of the federal building."

The petitions are in response to about 700,000 petitions sent across the country from May to January in a fund-raising effort by Spencer's group. The ultimate destination for the petitions is U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Spencer said.

With Spencer's petitions will be about 125 petitions signed by former law enforcement managers endorsing militarizing the border, said Bill King, retired chief patrol agent of the Border Patrol's El Centro, Calif., sector. King gathered the petitions.

"The only quick fix available in regards to illegal immigration, particularly with the threat of terrorism, is to put the military down there," King said. "I've been around this for 47 years and every year it gets worse."

King was with the Border Patrol from 1957 to 1990.

One group that opposes militarizing the border is Tucson-based Border Action Network. The network's director, Jen Allen, said part of the problem with brining in the military is that it would make a war zone of border communities and enemies out of civilians.

"Soldiers are trained to fight wars," Allen said.

Republican state Rep. Randy Graf, whose district includes Green Valley and Tucson's East Side, said the military option is the only way to offset the financial toll illegal immigration takes on the state.

Graf, who plans to speak at the rally, said the state spends about $1 billion annually on illegal immigrants who live here. He said at a minimum, 280,000 illegal immigrants live in Arizona, accounting for about 5 percent of the state's population.

King said for every illegal immigrant the Border Patrol catches on the Southwest border, three to five get away.

In fiscal 2003, which ended Sept. 30, the Border Patrol made 905,065 apprehensions on the Southwest border, said Border Patrol spokeswoman Gloria Chavez.