HEREFORD — Several people from around the country are visiting Cochise County this July Fourth weekend to help monitor the U.S.-Mexico border for illegal immigrant activity.

The Cochise County Militia, a border watch group, is holding the rally as a symbolic way to celebrate the nation’s Independence Day, said Bill Davis, director of the group.

At about 2 a.m. Friday, eight participants from Nevada, Colorado, New Jersey and Arizona met near the Huachuca Mountains along Highway 92. Davis divided them into four teams and instructed them to park their vehicles in certain locations.

He told them that if they see suspected smuggling activity, they should call Border Patrol and be prepared to give officials the vehicle’s description. They would then follow the vehicle until U.S. Border Patrol agents arrive.

As it turned out, after several hours of observations, none of them spotted anything significant Friday morning. But, as some of the participants remarked, if a man wants to catch a fish, he must go fishing.

Art Skill, 61, of New Jersey, took part in his first Cochise County Militia rally in December. After that experience, he decided to return this weekend for another rally.

“When I came down and saw what was going on, all the lay-up areas, the trash that is thrown around and the rape trees, it just bothered me and I wanted to do be able to do something,” he said.

Skill created www.fixingamerica.net, a Web site where members of the public can access information on elected officials. The site also covers issues, such as the topic of whether the borders are “fixed” or “broken.”

A man from Colorado known as “Big Tom,” 64, also participated in the event for a second time.

He attended a Cochise County Militia rally in October. While monitoring the border at that time, he observed some vehicles that seemed to be waiting to pick up individuals, but he never actually witnessed any illegal activity.

He returned this July Fourth holiday to try again. As much as he likes watching fireworks displays, he was more than willing to sacrifice the opportunity to see them this year.

“It would make my Fourth of July to be able to call Border Patrol and tell them I have somebody in the vicinity,” he said.

Davis said he expects more people will show up for the rally today. The event runs through Sunday.