San Diego Minutemen adopt freeway

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Critics say California was wrong to let ardent foes of illegal immigration adopt a stretch of highway for cleanup near a U.S. border patrol checkpoint.

Under its Adopt-A-Highway program, CalTrans has granted responsibility for cleanup of two miles of Interstate 5 to the San Diego Minutemen, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

"How great is that," said Jeff Schwilk, the group's founder. Schwilk repeatedly has denied his group advocates violence and said Friday no member has been arrested for immigrant-related violence, the Times reported.

CalTrans said it would not discriminate against the Minutemen, whose signs went up on each side of the freeway last month near the U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint near San Clemente.

Critics, including the Border Angels, an immigrant rights group, condemned CalTrans for sanctioning the Minutemen and called Schwilk's move a publicity stunt.

The Knights of Columbus, biker groups, Indian casinos and the International House of Pancakes also have adopted stretches of highway under the CalTrans program.