A new wave of nationalism has crashed over South Texas, as groups of armed citizens intrude on our lands in the name of keeping their country safe.
The FBI in New Mexico arrested Larry Mitchel Hopkins, also known as Johnny Horton Jr., on charges of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Hopkins leads the United Constitutional Patriots (UCP), one of several militias that have flocked to the border acting on President Trump’s assertion that the recent surge in Central American migrants is an “invasion.”
In a Facebook livestream hosted on April 16 by Debbie Farnsworth, a large group of migrants, including several children, whom the UCP rounded up, can be seen sitting on the ground.
“This is crazy, everybody, totally crazy. I don’t know what to say about this, other than the fact it’s got to stop,” a female voice that appears to be Farnsworth narrates.
A few minutes into the video, Border Patrol officers appear in the video. After establishing order they guide the migrants into the darkness.
The UCP maintains that their actions are legal, but Sunland Park Police Chief Javier Guerra states that he had explicitly informed them that they are not.
In response to this event, Governor of New Mexico Michelle Grisham stated that, “Menacing or threatening migrant families and asylum-seekers is absolutely unacceptable and must cease.”
These problems are by no means isolated to New Mexico.
These militias roam the border in the Rio Grande Valley, and citizens in Kingsville and Mission are wary of that fact.
Heir to the King Ranch Stephen J. “Tio” Kleberg believes that militias could cause a threat of their own. Kleberg said he will allow federal and state law onto his property, but he won’t let private militia beyond the gates.
“I don’t think [private militias] have a governing body,” Kleberg said. “They are independent and not authorized by anybody. It could lead to individuals taking action without someone in authority supervising. I think that could be dangerous.”
Joe Metz who lives in Mission also refuses to let these militias on his property.
“The Militia just needs to stay where they are. We don’t need fanatical people. We don’t need anybody here with guns. Why do they have guns? I have dealt with illegals for 30 years, and all of them have been scared asking for help,” Metz said. “The militias need to stay up north where they belong. We have no use for them here. They might shoot someone of hurt someone.”
What these militias need to realize is that their presence is doing the exact opposite of what they claim to intend. The people who live here do not feel safer with them around, they are anxious. A bunch of unregulated strangers walking around their property with guns should frighten anyone in their right mind.
The issue here is not free speech, gun regulation or even illegal immigration. It’s people who think that this country is theirs, that they are its rightful owners. They want “their” country back. There’s only one problem with that.
THIS COUNTRY ISN’T YOURS. YOU DON’T OWN IT.
It isn’t anybody’s rightful property. There is no “REAL” America, and that is what makes this country beautiful. It’s a place where anyone should be able to be themselves without fear of persecution. It’s a place where even orphaned immigrants can make a difference.
Take your nationalism, bigotry and hate, and shove it where the sun don’t shine, because we the people will not stand for it.
In New York Harbor, there lies a monument to what we stand for.
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
If we don’t stand for that anymore, then what the hell do we stand for?