GOLIAD, Texas —  Goliad, Texas, isn't directly on the border of Mexico but the citizens of the town still think their land is a gateway for illegal Mexican immigrants entering the United States.

"We're 165 miles from the United States border here in Goliad. It's a problem here. It's not just a border issue anymore. It's everywhere," said Kenneth Buelter, a Texas Minuteman (search).

The controversial Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. (search) that orginated in Arizona has now formed in Texas. The group voluntarily monitors thousands of acres of South Texas ranchland in order to prevent illegal border crossing.

"People feel empowered again. They feel they can actually make a difference and really put a lot of pressure on President Bush and Congress," said Sam Cox, cofounder of Minuteman Project.

The Minutemen have been rallying support nationwide by holding organizational meetings and recruiting volunteers. The group plans to demonstrate their skills on October 1, when they will launch a massive border surveillance effort spanning from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific.

Some call them vigilantes and illegal militia but despite opposition from more than a dozen state legislators, the Minutemen want to continue their activity along the border.

Click in the box near the top of the story to watch a report by FOX News' Phil Keating.