When the federal government refuses to do one of the few duties it’s actually tasked with—national security—it’s up to the citizens to safeguard our nation. And that’s exactly what a group of military veterans and concerned citizens is doing down on the Arizona/Mexico border. They say they’ve been patrolling the border for five years now, mainly focused on foreigners entering our country illegally, from Mexico and other “OTM” nations. But now, and amid reports that Phoenix is becoming a “hotbed for terrorist recruiting,” they’re focusing on something else, something even more alarming: Islamic terrorists attempting to cross into the United States via the Arizona border. News 4 Tucson KVOA-TV reports:

“There’s Palestinians, Afghans, Syrians trying to get in. We are trying to stop everything and anything from coming across,” said Tim Foley, the field operations director of Arizona Border Recon.

“We have the war on drugs and the war on terror and it seems that they are combining right here on the border,” said Foley. “We’re not a militia, we’re not a three percent group, we do not advocate overthrowing the government…we are an extra set of eyes and ears for Border Patrol.”

Every few months, the group meets to patrol the Arizona, Mexico border for seven days and seven nights. They set up a six to nine mile perimeter, in order to push those attempting to come across illegally, into territory with a higher Border Patrol presence.

“When your friends come to your home, they come to your front door, not your back window,” said Foley.

“You don’t lock your doors because you hate what’s outside, but because you love what’s inside,” said Mark McConnell, a volunteer for Arizona Border Recon.

In response to the patrols, the Public Affairs Office of the Tucson Sector Border Patrol released this statement:

“Border security work is potentially dangerous and complex; usually taking place in remote locations in very inhospitable terrain. Border Patrol agents receive extensive training, and are taught to coordinate and communicate with a multitude of law enforcement officers to prevent unanticipated encounters with one another. Agents are also supported by ground-based and sophisticated aerial detection technology.  We strongly encourage private citizens and all non-governmental organizations to contact the Border Patrol and/or local law enforcement authorities to report suspected unlawful activity.”

That’s all well and good, and of course their efforts and professionalism are much appreciated, but Americans are on edge, and have grown increasingly distrustful of an Obama Administration that habitually frees criminal illegals, supports sanctuary cities, and has shown itself obstinately dismissive of the possibility that ISIS could infiltrate refugees and illegal border-crossers. Consequently, a great many of us feel like we’re on our own.

Obama isn't that interested in protecting us…VETS patrol AZ border for terrorists https://t.co/Q9PgFWoaoH

— Corky Engel (@corkyengel) November 23, 2015

This, is Y we have the #2A When the govt fails us, its on us 2protect ourselves. Vets patrol AZ border 4 terrorists https://t.co/fFf4dmV26B

— Max Genao (@fussaboy) November 23, 2015

As you may recall, just last week, thirteen Syrians attempted to enter the United States via the Texas border with Mexico, and were either caught or turned themselves in. But the concern is for those who weren’t caught. And given our porous borders, we can be relatively certain that, ill-intentioned or not, some have slipped through unnoticed. And as we now know, at least three of the Islamic terrorists who attacked Paris just over a week ago entered into France as “refugees” by way of Greece, taking advantage of the chaotic migrant crisis.

ISIS infiltrating Syrian refugees, and posing as other foreign nationals slipping over our border, is a very real and imminent threat. With a petulant child POTUS hell bent on flooding America not only with illegals, but with tens of thousands of comparatively un-vetted Syrian refugees, ninety-seven percent of whom are not Christians fleeing barbaric persecution by ISIS, it’s clear he has no intention of protecting us. So I say good for these patriotic Americans for doing what the Islamic Jihadist Sympathizer in our White House won’t.