A group of armed volunteers that gathered along Arizona’s border with Mexico to curb illegal immigration has said it will stop monitoring the border, but will not completely disband.

The Minuteman Project began April 1 as a way to both deter illegal immigration into the United States and convince the Bush Administration to increase border patrols.

Members of the group used binoculars to spot possible illegal border crossers and alerted border patrol agents via two-way radio of any leads. But the government did not welcome the help.

Opponents of the group say it is racist and has most likely only diverted illegal immigration to other less guarded areas of the border.

Gray Deacon, a spokesman for the Minuteman Project, says the group will adjust its focus to speaking out against businesses that hire illegal immigrants, pushing for immigration reform, and organizing branches of the group across the country.

Group leaders Jim Gilchrist and Chris Simcox are scheduled to speak in Washington before the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus next week.