'Nativist Extremist' Group List (Produced by the Southern Poverty Law Center)

What follows is a state-by-state list of the 173 groups that constitute the nativist extremist movement, as fissured as it may be. In the case of three major groups — the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, the Minuteman Project, and the Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition — acronyms have been added to help identify affiliated chapters that use other names. Groups marked by an asterisk (*) are also listed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as hate groups.

ALABAMA (5)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Birmingham
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Arab
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Blountsville
River Region Minutemen (MCDC)
Millbrook
Tennessee Valley Minutemen (MCDC)
Rogersville

ALASKA (1)
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps of Alaska (MCDC)
Homer

ARIZONA (17)
American Border Patrol (*)
Sierra Vista
American Freedom Riders
Phoenix
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Phoenix
Maricopa Patriots (MMP)
Maricopa County
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Cochise County
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Green Valley
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Lake Havasu City
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
La Paz County
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Phoenix
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Prescott
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Tucson
Mohave County Minutemen
Kingman
Patriots' Border Alliance
Phoenix
Riders Against Illegal Aliens
Phoenix
United for a Sovereign America
Phoenix
Warden Burns Mexican Flags
Tucson
Yuma Patriots
Yuma

CALIFORNIA (31)
Antelope Valley Minutemen
Antelope Valley
California Coalition for Immigration Reform (*)
Huntington Beach
Campo Minutemen
Campo
Carlsbad Citizens Brigade
Carlsbad
Central Coast Minutemen
Salinas
Crispus Attucks Brigade
Los Angeles
Desert Cities Minutemen (MCDC)
Palm Desert
East Bay Minutemen (MCDC)
Walnut Creek
Escondido Minutemen Brigade
Escondido
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Orange County
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
San Diego
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
San Juan Capistrano
Friends of the Border Patrol
Covina
Kern County Minutemen (MMP)
Bakersfield
Los Angeles Minutemen (MCDC)
Los Angeles
MCDC Camp Vigilance Field HQ (MCDC)
Boulevard
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
San Diego
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Ontario
Minuteman Project (MMP)
San Clemente
Mountain Minutemen
Jacumba
No Invaders
Running Springs
Northern California Minutemen (MCDC)
Napa
Oceanside Citizens Brigade
Oceanside
Rancho Bernardo Citizens Brigade
Poway
Sacramento Region Minutemen (MCDC)
Sacramento
San Diego Minutemen
San Diego
Save Our State (*)
Sacramento
Save Our State (*)
San Bernardino
Sonoma County Minutemen (MCDC)
Sonoma
Ventura County Minutemen (MMP)
Thousand Oaks
Vista Citizens Brigade
Vista

COLORADO (6)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Loveland
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Denver
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Grand Valley
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Byers
Patriots' Border Alliance
Colorado Springs
Rescue Without Borders (*)
Boulder

CONNECTICUT (1)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
New Haven

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (1)
Defend DC
Washington, D.C.

FLORIDA (7)
Central Florida Minutemen (MCDC)
Orlando
Dixie County Minutemen (MMP)
Old Town
Floridians for Immigration Enforcement
Palm Beach
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Haines City
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Miami
Report Illegals
Pompano Beach
Space Coast Minutemen (MCDC)
Melbourne

GEORGIA (10)
Cherokee Minutemen (MCDC)
Canton
Dustin Inman Society
Marietta
Gainesville Minutemen (MCDC)
Gainesville
Middle Georgia Minutemen (MCDC)
Macon
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Athens
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Atlanta
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Augusta
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Atlanta
Northwest Georgia Minutemen (MCDC)
Dalton
Southwest Georgia Minutemen (MCDC)
Albany

ILLINOIS (3)
Chicago Minuteman Project (MMP)
Lindenhurst
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Elgin
Minutemen Midwest
Harvard

INDIANA (2)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Valpraiso
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Southern Indiana

IOWA (11)
Cherokee County Minutemen (MCDC)
Cherokee
Des Moines Minutemen (MCDC)
Des Moines
Harrison County Minutemen (MCDC)
Logan
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Council Bluffs
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Denison
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Griswold
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Iowa City
Riders Against Illegal Aliens
Ottumwa
Shelby County Minutemen (MCDC)
Shelby
Taylor County Minutemen (MCDC)
Taylor County
Woodbury County Minutemen (MCDC)
Woodbury County

KANSAS (5)
Burlington Minutemen (MCDC)
Burlington
Heart of America Minutemen (MCDC)
Kansas City
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Emporia
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Topeka
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Wichita

KENTUCKY (1)
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Lexington

LOUISIANA (1)
MCDC of Louisiana (MCDC)
Leesville

MAINE (1)
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Hanover

MARYLAND (1)
Help Save Maryland
Rockville

MASSACHUSETTS (1)
Concerned Citizens for Immigration Law Enforcement (*)
Framingham

MINNESOTA (1)
Minnesota Minutemen (MCDC)
Mound

MISSOURI (3)
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Joplin
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Kansas City
Springfield Minutemen (MCDC)
Springfield

MONTANA (2)
Eastern Montana Minutemen (MCDC)
Ryegate
MCDC of Montana (MCDC)
Missoula

NEBRASKA (3)
Lincoln Minutemen (MCDC)
Lincoln
MCDC of Nebraska (MCDC)
Omaha
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Grand Island

NEVADA (4)
Americans4America
Las Vegas
Emigration Party of Nevada (*)
Henderson
Nevada Action Coalition
Las Vegas
Pahrump Minutemen
Pahrump

NEW JERSEY (5)
MCDC of New Jersey (MCDC)
Bound Brook
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Bergen County
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Trenton
New Jersey Citizens for Immigration Control
Carlstadt
United Patriots of America
Linden

NEW MEXICO (1)
Patriots' Border Alliance
Alamogordo

NEW YORK (3)
MCDC of New York (MCDC)
Freeport
Minuteman Project (MMP)
New York
N.Y. ICE (FIRE)
New York

NORTH CAROLINA (3)
Americans for Legal Immigration
Raleigh
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Raleigh
Triangle Minutemen Patriots (MMP)
Pittsboro

OHIO (3)
MCDC of Ohio (MCDC)
Cincinnati
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Cleveland
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Columbus

OKLAHOMA (2)
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Tulsa
Oklahoma Minutemen (MCDC)
Oklahoma City

OREGON (4)
Coos County Citizen Caucus
Coos Bay
MCDC of Oregon (MCDC)
Salem
Oregonians for Immigration Reform
McMinville
Oregon Minuteman Patriots Border Alliance
Salem

PENNSYLVANIA (4)
Great Lakes Minuteman Project (MMP)
Union City
Pennsylvania Minutemen
Quakertown
Pennsylvania Minutemen
Reading
Pennsylvanians for Immigration Control
Warminster

RHODE ISLAND (1)
Rhode Island Minutemen (MCDC)
Providence

SOUTH CAROLINA (3)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Rock Hill
Horry County Minutemen (MCDC)
Surfside Beach
Low Country Minutemen (MCDC)
Charleston

TEXAS (7)
Border Guardians (*)
Livingston
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Austin
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Arlington
Minuteman Project (MMP)
Lone Star
Texans for Immigration Reform
Houston
Texas Border Volunteers
Conroe
U.S. Border Watch
Spring

UTAH (3)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Salt Lake City
Southern Utah Minutemen (MCDC)
St. George
Utah Minutemen Project (MMP)
Salt Lake City

VIRGINIA (8)
Centreville Citizens Coalition
Centerville
Help Save Fairfax
Fairfax
Help Save Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Help Save Loudon
Loudon
Help Save Old Dominion
Old Dominion
Help Save Stafford
Stafford
Help Save Virginia
Herndon
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC)
Herndon

WASHINGTON (3)
Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE)
Yakima
MCDC of Washington (MCDC)
Yakima
Minutemen American Defense
Seattle

WISCONSIN (1)
MCDC of Wisconsin (MCDC)
Oconto Falls

WYOMING (3)
Evanston Minutemen
Evanston
MCDC of Wyoming (MCDC)
Casper
Newcastle Minutemen
Newcastle

Intelligence Report
Spring 2009

'Sinister Intentions' Hard Core of Nativist Movement Growing By David Holthouse

Intelligence Report
Spring 2009

Midway through last year, Jim Gilchrist, one of the principal architects of the modern nativist movement, sounded like a man burdened with regret.

"In retrospect, had I seen this, had I had a crystal ball to see what is going to happen… . Am I happy? No," Gilchrist told the Orange County Register last June 25. "Am I happy at the outcome of this whole movement? I am very, very sad, very disappointed."

Little more than three years had passed since Gilchrist and Chris Simcox, a kindergarten teacher-turned-Wild West gunfight reenactor, had co-organized the Minuteman Project, a month-long border "civilian border patrol" operation in April 2005. It mustered a few hundred volunteers, garnered international media hype, and inspired a slew of ragtag imitators whose militant rhetoric and confrontational methods rapidly exceeded Gilchrist's original vision of retirees in lawn chairs keeping a leisurely eye on the border.

"There's all kinds of organizations that have spawned from the Minuteman Project and I have to say, some of the people who have gotten into this movement have sinister intentions," Gilchrist said.

Armed members of nativist extremist groups are still patrolling parts of the U.S.-Mexican border. Sandy Huffaker/AP Images

Jim Gilchrist was right. Even as the total number of anti-immigration groups has remained more or less the same in recent years, the number of extremist groups within the nativist movement has continued to climb. According to a count by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the number of "nativist extremist" groups in the U.S. rose from 144 in 2007 to 173 last year — a 20% increase.

Organizations identified by the Intelligence Report as nativist extremist are groups that go after people, not policy. Rather than limiting themselves to advocating within the mainstream political process for tighter border security, stricter immigration controls or tougher enforcement of immigration laws already on the books, these fringe outfits target and confront immigrants as individuals.

Some conduct armed "citizen border patrols." Others confront Latino immigrants congregated at day labor centers or informal roadside pick-up sites. Some conduct surveillance of apartment houses and private homes. Almost all of them disseminate vicious, immigrant-bashing propaganda.

Nativist extremist groups do not, however, present a unified front. Like other movements on the radical right, theirs is rife with infighting, ego clashes and allegations of fraud leveled by former allies. "I get more hate mail from members of my own movement, the so-called Minutemen, than from the open-border people," Gilchrist told The New Republic last August. He complained about "troublemakers with personality disorders and criminal propensities" hijacking the cause.

Gilchrist was embroiled in controversy and court battles last year after Minuteman Project board members accused him of misappropriating more than $400,000 in donations. His organization lost five chapters. Meanwhile, the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, a spin-off group led by Simcox, more than doubled its number of chapters from 34 to 78, establishing itself as the largest and most geographically widespread Minuteman organization in the country. This rise occurred despite persistent allegations of fundraising improprieties leveled against Simcox by former MCDC national officers and state chapter leaders, along with a marked drop in actual border operations conducted by the MCDC.

Many other growing nativist extremist groups — most notably the Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition, or FIRE, which increased from two chapters in 2007 to 14 last year — largely steered clear of the border in favor of confronting immigrants with aggressive protests at day labor sites, which are safer, closer to home, and don't require spending hot days or cold nights in the desert.

One exception to this trend was the die-hard nativists stationed in the badlands near Campo, Calif. Since late 2005, the Campo Minutemen and various like-minded groups have maintained a heavily armed, tightly organized presence in a human and drug smuggling hot zone roughly 60 miles southeast of San Diego. Whereas the original Minuteman Project and subsequent made-for-TV civilian border patrol operations were carried out in heavily traveled or populated areas the organizers knew to be shunned by coyotes and drug runners, the Minutemen outside Campo are dug into remote, secretive positions in dangerous territory. The Campo operation is a magnet for the movement's true believers, many of whom feel marginalized by the election of Barack Obama and the trouncing of anti-immigration candidates in last year's elections, perhaps making them more volatile than ever.

"I'd be wary of going down to the border myself these days," Gilchrist told The New Republic. "I'm worried about what [the Minutemen] would do with a sidearm."

Last year ended on a bizarre note for the nativist extremist movement when Shawna Forde, the leader of a small but ambitious group called Minuteman American Defense, reported she'd been the victim of a Dec. 29 home invasion carried out by a trio of Spanish-speaking men who ambushed her in her kitchen, beat her unconscious, sexually assaulted her, slashed the back of her neck with a knife, and then wrote "13" on her floor with a black felt marker. She said the 13 was apparently a reference to the ultra-violent, international Latino street gang Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13.

Some rival group leaders didn't buy Forde's story, which was under police investigation at press time. First of all, her estranged husband was shot exactly one week earlier in the same home where the reported rape occurred. Then, on Jan. 15, Forde told police a man she couldn't describe had shot her in the arm in an alley two blocks from her home.

"The small scratches she reports via photos on her arms and neck look far too light for any knife attack, much less the work of MS-13," Americans for Legal Immigration head William Gheen wrote in a mass E-mail to his group's members. "Why would MS-13 switch from brutal murder and decapitations to bruises and light scratches that look like they were made with a paper clip? If this story is a hoax and some sort of attention grab, then it could prove highly embarrassing to our movement and cause."