Minutemen Gather For July Fourth Celebration

SAN DIEGO -- There is no parade and no fireworks, but this Independence Day celebration in Boulevard is open to all who are considered friendly.

The Minutemen are as serious about keeping Camp Vigilance free from controversy as they are about securing the U.S.-Mexico border.

"To a lot of people, it's OK … in high power, high places, it's OK if tons of drugs come across this fence," said Jeff Schwilk of the San Diego Minutemen.

Schwilk points to the most recent drug seizure this week. Just two miles from Camp Vigilance, 379 pounds of marijuana was found underground waiting to be picked up.

There are other common concerns among people at the camp.

"There are terrorists who fall in with a group of illegals and you'd never know it," said Bill Miles of the Colorado Minutemen.

"We could not exist without our sovereignty, and that's what that flag stands for," said congressional candidate Duncan D. Hunter.

Hunter also said after three tours of duty, he can't understand why the U.S. could guard the borders of Iraq but not those in this country.

"We're going to leave America's borders open to anybody who wants to cross over," said Hunter.

The wife of Border Patrol officer Ignasio Ramos, who is in prison for shooting a drug smuggler, summed up what she said this event at Camp Vigilance is about: "We need to wake up America and fight for it."