But the South Carolina congressman does not favor the group's latest proposal to recruit private volunteers to challenge businesses that hire illegal workers. A newly affiliated Lowcountry group still says it is ready to sign on to the campaign but has remained quiet about specifics.
"I would really prefer that people work with the existing structure that we already have," Wilson said this week. "I actually thought they were doing a commendable service in backing up the border patrol."
While describing the border patrol effort as "very professional and very constructive," he said the latest effort seemed to intrude on the jurisdiction of federal, state and local law enforcement.
The Minuteman Project, which uses the motto "Americans doing the jobs our government won't do," announced some basic details about its plans Monday. The group hopes to enlist immigration attorneys and former federal government employees to target businesses that hire illegal immigrants, including bringing their own lawsuits.
The group does not say how it hopes to identify the groups, especially ones that have never been cited for immigration-related violations.
Other aims include rooting out voter fraud, identity theft and fraudulent qualification for public assistance, all issues that the group says often are linked to illegal immigration.
The effort is part of an ongoing campaign called "Operation Spotlight." The campaign is listed under a portion of the group's Web site called "internal vigilance operations."
Additionally, the group is asking volunteers to submit digital photos and other types of evidence that show employers breaking the law.
Members of Citizens for a Better Community, which will be reforming as a local chapter of the Minuteman Project, are encouraging Lowcountry businesses to call a toll-free number to verify Social Security numbers. Many undocumented workers will use made-up, stolen or borrowed numbers.
While agreeing that the country's immigration law needs reform, the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce strongly disagreed with the group's approach.
"The Minuteman Project has been noted for some of its radical tactics and inflammatory language," spokeswoman Charlie Clark said.
Immigration, Clark said, "is a complicated issue and one without a quick solution." While the chamber encourages all businesses to abide by U.S. immigration laws, she said many local businesses are heavily dependent on the Hispanic labor force, many of whom do not have legal status to be in the United States.
She said members of the Latino community aren't just workers, but an integral part of the community as consumers, students, business owners who will continue to come to the area as long as it has a strong community and desirable quality of life.
"There is no doubt that the U.S. immigration system is in need of change," Clark said. "Until that time, the Minuteman Project's divisive tactics don't solve the issue, and it serves to further divide communities."
Simultaneous with its push against businesses hiring illegal workers, the Minuteman Project hopes to exert pressure on politicians who do not promote tougher measures against illegal immigration.