Security along the Texas-Mexico border has always been a concern. But now, an Austin congressman has a plan to tighten the border without the controversy caused by armed groups like the Minutemen.

Congressman Michael McCaul has proposed a plan that might help secure the border with trained volunteers.

Illegal immigration on the Mexican-American border has been on the minds of many since 9/11. Armed groups like the Minutemen, who some call vigilantes, have patrolled the border, citing national security.

McCaul, who sits on the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, says he addressed this trend, which he says is troubling, with a new bill.

"My bill would resolve that situation because to do nothing would allow, as they call them, vigilantes to roam freely along the border," McCaul said.

His new bill would create an auxiliary arm of the border patrol with unpaid by trained volunteers. The volunteers would have to go through a background check before they could help an understaffed border patrol.

These volunteers would help with office work, but they would also monitor surveillance cameras, be watchmen along the border and possibly help transport and care of apprehended individuals.

"We're simply providing a vehicle or a program as the coast guard has had for 50 years where they can have volunteers assisting them," McCaul said.

Some told KVUE News they like this idea better than the Minutemen.

"Let's not let people go free, amuck, with guns patrolling our borders like someone patrolling their property. You know someone will get shot or someone will get hurt," said Raymond Dodaro, Austin Resident

But others don't see it that way.

Maria Ines, a 7-year legal American resident from Honduras, said she thinks having volunteers would be the same thing as the Minutemen.

Yvonne Montejano, of the AFSC, an immigrant advocacy group, feels the same way.

"We find it very disturbing that there is legislation wanting to reward this kind of activity by legalizing them and we feel very strongly that's the wrong thing to do.

it does not address the problem," Montejano said.

Her group sees the cause root of immigration as the problem.

Congressman McCaul is also introducing a bill that addresses the concerns of immigrants other than Mexican nationals, who are usually let go by the Border Patrol.