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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums**A militia group detained migrants at the border. The ACLU calls it kidnapping**
By Catherine E. Shoichet, Deanna Hackney, Geneva Sands and Paul P. Murphy, CNN
Updated 5:47 PM ET, Fri April 19, 2019
(CNN)A militia group near the US-Mexico border detained hundreds of people this week, New Mexico's attorney general told CNN.
"My office has been informed that this week, an armed group has detained nearly 300 people near Sunland Park, New Mexico," Attorney General Hector Balderas said in a written statement. "These individuals should not attempt to exercise authority reserved for law enforcement."
Videos posted online purportedly showing migrants held by the United Constitutional Patriots group and handed over to the US Border Patrol drew swift condemnation from the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico.
"We cannot allow racist and armed vigilantes to kidnap and detain people seeking asylum," the ACLU said in a letter to state authorities denouncing the actions and asking the government to step in. "We urge you to immediately investigate this atrocious and unlawful conduct."
CNN has reached out to the United Constitutional Patriots for comment.
The New York Times reported that a spokesman for the militia group said their actions were legal, "comparing the detention of the migrants to 'a verbal citizen's arrest.'"
Videos show armed men in masks, fatigues
Various private militia groups -- often espousing anti-immigrant views -- have patrolled the border for years.
But it's rare to see video of an armed group detaining migrants on the US side of the border.
Authorities say they're looking into videos posted on the United Constitutional Patriots New Mexico Border Ops Facebook page.
CNN has reached out to the group and the individuals who posted the videos for comment but has not confirmed details about who shot the videos, or when and where they were recorded.
A member of United Constitutional Patriots is pictured patrolling near Mt. Christo Rey in Sunland Park, New Mexico, on March 20, 2019.
The videos purport to show members of the group detaining migrants, including families with children, who've just crossed the border.
They show people often in full military fatigues, with handguns strapped to their sides, wearing gloves and black face masks. Armed men order migrants to stop, force them to sit on the ground and then apparently call Border Patrol to pick them up. At least two videos posted on the group's Facebook page depict a man in fatigues verbally identifying himself as "Border Patrol" as he stops a group of migrants.....(more at link)
https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/19/us/border-militia-migrants/index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=fbCNN&utm_content=2019-04-20T14:54:36&fbclid=IwAR1W1f05xfmDizCWP_gQ72i4LP2MTbyjk2TZA_fl-0wbE4aFkwfBfVRc2zo
CanonRay
(14,038 posts)who were kidnapped, and has them file a nice, big, juicy civil rights lawsuit for about a billion in damages. Sue every one of the MFs personally and the organization. Bankrupt the bastards.
LonePirate
(13,386 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)spanone
(135,636 posts)malaise
(267,830 posts)have been kidnapping people at the border and separating families and children for some time.
These are crimes against humanity. No no laws apply to the USA or this government?
Where is the condemnation from the so called 'democratic nations'aka the Western Powers.
Where is the condemnation from all the other progressive countries? Who remains silent while this is going on? Oh yes - most of Europe - ask the African people who were kidnapped at taken out of our countries then ask the Jews.
Civilized is a badly misused word.
Give thanks for the ACLU - they deserve all the support we can deliver.
Give thanks to those who resist but more noise has to be made - this cannot continue - now the brown shirts are doing the kidnapping - this won't end well.
lostnfound
(16,138 posts)United Constitutional Patriots