The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) wants members of a volunteer militia group arrested for detaining illegal immigrants at gunpoint and impersonating U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Members of the United Constitutional Patriots, a conservative group in New Mexico, unofficially patrol the U.S.-Mexico border in their home state and detain immigrants crossing the border.
This week, the group detained nearly 300 people, including families with young children, near Sunland Park, as recorded in a video posted to Facebook by member Jim Benvie. “Oh, and look what we got here, guys,” Benvie, 43, said during the live video while stopping a family. “Border control,” he told the group, despite the fact he is not employed by U.S. government.
In the video, Benvie is joined by his camouflage-clad partner who calls border security agents to retrieve the immigrants. “...You never know what’s coming through that wall,” said Benvie. “You gotta have the kids. That’s the passport.”
In more videos, Benvie calls for people to stand behind President Trump, describing immigration as “a very organized invasion.” According to BuzzFeed, a Border Patrol agent temporarily left five women and their children in the care of the United Constitutional Patriots.
Videos of hot and thirsty families cowering in the sand caused the ACLU of New Mexico to demand state officials intervene. On Thursday, the organization sent a letter to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Attorney General Hector Balderas.
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