Minuteman Project
The Minuteman Project was an anti-immigrant border vigilante group founded in August 2004 by Jim Gilchrist and Chris Simcox. Its members took it upon themselves to monitor the U.S.-Mexico border for illegal immigrants, including conducting armed "patrols." The group split into two factions due to rancor between the founders; both factions eventually disintegrated. In the mid-2000s, though, it was the most important border vigilante group and even attracted support from some mainstream politicians.