The Arizona Minutemen, Lost In A Changing America

The Vanishing Minutemen
Minutemen volunteers Sam Wright and Jack Pate, left, help build a fence along the U.S./Mexican border near Palominas, Ariz., Saturday, May 27, 2006. Minutemen border watch volunteers displayed the startup of new fencing Saturday on a cattle ranch along the southeastern Arizona border with Mexico, intent on building impediments to a flood of illegal immigration until the federal government takes up the task. (AP Photo/Khampha Bouaphanh)
Minutemen volunteers Sam Wright and Jack Pate, left, help build a fence along the U.S./Mexican border near Palominas, Ariz., Saturday, May 27, 2006. Minutemen border watch volunteers displayed the startup of new fencing Saturday on a cattle ranch along the southeastern Arizona border with Mexico, intent on building impediments to a flood of illegal immigration until the federal government takes up the task. (AP Photo/Khampha Bouaphanh)

CHICAGO -- Sheriff Joe Arpaio recently told members of the Arizona Minuteman border-watch movement that they could end up "seeing 30 rounds fired into them" if they're not more careful where they point their guns.

Arpaio issued his warning after a Minuteman was arrested for aiming a rifle at a sheriff's deputy he'd mistaken for a drug smuggler.

This is a sign of a quiet end to a rabidly anti-immigrant movement that started fading years ago and whose fate seemed sealed when some Republicans agreed to attempt immigration reform after the 2012 presidential election.

Before You Go

The U.S.-Mexico border is violent

6 Misconceptions About The Border

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot