An armed volunteer militia group stops migrants at the border

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<p content = "The & nbsp;American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)& nbsp; Wishes to arrest members of a group of volunteer militia for arresting immigrants and pretending to be US Customs and Border Protection. A militia arrested for arresting immigrants under threat of firearms and masquerading as customs and US border protection

<p content = "Members of & nbsp;United Constitutional Patriots, a conservative group in New Mexico, unofficially patrols the US-Mexico border in their home country and holds back immigrants who cross the border. "data-reactid =" 23 "type =" text "> Members of the United Constitutional Patriots, a conservative group in New Mexico, unofficially patrol the US-Mexico border in their home country and detain immigrants who cross the border border.

This week, the group arrested nearly 300 people, including families with young children, near Sunland Park, as evidenced by a video posted on Facebook by member Jim Benvie. "Oh, and look what we got here, guys," said Benvie, 43, during the live video, while arresting a family. "Border control," he told the group, although he is not employed by the US government.

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Migrants detained near the US-Mexico border

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Mcallen, TX – June 12: Central American asylum seekers are waiting for US Border Patrol officers to take them into custody on June 12, 2018 near McAllen, Texas. The families were then sent to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) treatment center for separation. US border authorities apply the "zero tolerance" policy of the Trump administration to undocumented immigrants. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions also said that domestic violence and gangs in the country of origin of immigrants would no longer qualify them for political asylum status. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

MCALLEN, TX – JUNE 12: Central American asylum seekers are arrested by US Border Patrol officers on June 12, 2018 near McAllen, Texas. The families were then sent to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) treatment center for separation. US border authorities apply the "zero tolerance" policy of the Trump administration to undocumented immigrants. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions also said that domestic violence and gangs in the country of origin of immigrants would no longer qualify them for political asylum status. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

Mcallen, TX – June 12: An officer from the US Border Patrol takes a group of Central American asylum seekers into custody on June 12, 2018 near McAllen, Texas. Immigrant families were then sent to a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) treatment center for possible separation. US border authorities apply the Zero Tolerance Policy of the Trump Administration to undocumented immigrants. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions also said that domestic violence and gangs in the country of origin of immigrants would no longer qualify them for political asylum status. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

MCALLEN, TX – JUNE 12: A two-year-old Honduran asylum seeker cries as her mother is searched and detained near the US-Mexico border on June 12, 2018 in McAllen, Texas. The asylum seekers had crossed the Rio Grande by boat from Mexico and had been stopped by US Border Patrol agents before being sent to a treatment center for possible separation. The Department of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) applies the "zero tolerance" policy of the Trump administration to undocumented immigrants. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions also said that domestic violence and gangs in the country of origin of immigrants would no longer qualify them for political asylum status. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

MCALLEN, TX – JUNE 12: US Border Patrol officers arrest Central American asylum seekers on June 12, 2018 near McAllen, Texas. Immigrant families were then sent to a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) treatment center for possible separation. US border authorities apply the Zero Tolerance Policy of the Trump Administration to undocumented immigrants. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions also said that domestic violence and gangs in the country of origin of immigrants would no longer qualify them for political asylum status. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

MCALLEN, TX – JUNE 12: An officer from the US Border Patrol is looking for groups of asylum seekers crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico on June 12, 2018, near McAllen, Texas. US border authorities apply the Zero Tolerance Policy of the Trump Administration to undocumented immigrants. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that domestic violence and gangs in the country of origin of immigrants would no longer qualify them for political asylum status. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

MCALLEN, TX – JUNE 12: Central American asylum seekers wait while US Border Patrol officers arrest groups of them on June 12, 2018, near McAllen, Texas. The families were then sent to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) treatment center for separation. US border authorities apply the Zero Tolerance Policy of the Trump Administration to undocumented immigrants. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions also said that domestic violence and gangs in the country of origin of immigrants would no longer qualify them for political asylum status. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

MCALLEN, TX – JUNE 12: US Border Patrol officers arrest a group of asylum seekers from Central America on June 12, 2018 near McAllen, Texas. Immigrant families were then sent to a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) treatment center for possible separation. US border authorities apply the Zero Tolerance Policy of the Trump Administration to undocumented immigrants. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions also said that domestic violence and gangs in the country of origin of immigrants would no longer qualify them for political asylum status. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

MCALLEN, TX – June 12: A Honduran mother holds her two-year-old child under the name of US Border Patrol as agents review their papers near the US-Mexico border on June 12, 2018 in McAllen, Texas. The asylum seekers had crossed the Rio Grande by boat from Mexico and had been stopped by US Border Patrol agents before being sent to a treatment center for possible separation. The Department of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) applies the "zero tolerance" policy of the Trump administration to undocumented immigrants. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions also said that domestic violence and gangs in the country of origin of immigrants would no longer qualify them for political asylum status. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

MCALLEN, TX – June 12: A two-year-old Honduran woman stands with her mother after being stopped by US Border Patrol agents near the US-Mexico border on June 12, 2018 in McAllen, Texas. The asylum seekers had crossed the Rio Grande by boat from Mexico and had been arrested before being sent to a border patrol processing center for possible separation. The Department of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) applies the "zero tolerance" policy of the Trump administration to undocumented immigrants. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions also said that domestic violence and gangs in the country of origin of immigrants would no longer qualify them for political asylum status. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

MCALLEN, TX – JUNE 12: A border patrol of the United States shines on a terrified mother and her son from Honduras, found in the dark near the US-Mexico border on June 12, 2018 in McAllen, Texas. The asylum seekers had crossed the Rio Grande by boat from Mexico and had lost themselves in the woods. They were then arrested by Border Patrol officers and sent to a treatment center for possible separation. The Department of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) applies the "zero tolerance" policy of the Trump administration to undocumented immigrants. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions also said that domestic violence and gangs in the country of origin of immigrants would no longer qualify them for political asylum status. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

MCALLEN, TX – JUNE 12: US Border Patrol officers arrest a group of asylum seekers from Central America near the US-Mexico border on June 12, 2018 in McAllen, Texas. The group of women and children had crossed the Rio Grande by rafting from Mexico and had been arrested before being sent to a treatment center for possible separation. The Department of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) applies the "zero tolerance" policy of the Trump administration to undocumented immigrants. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions also said that domestic violence and gangs in the country of origin of immigrants would no longer qualify them for political asylum status. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

In the video, Benvie is joined by his camouflage partner who calls Border Security Officers to pick up the immigrants. "… you never know what's going on through this wall," Benvie said. "You must have children. This is the passport. "

<p content = "In more videos, Benvie calls people to stay behind & nbsp;President Trump, describing immigration as "a very organized invasion. "According to & nbsp;BuzzFeedA Border Patrol Officer temporarily left five women and their children in the care of the United Constitutional Patriots. In other videos, Benvie is asking people to stand behind President Trump, describing immigration as "a very organized invasion." According to BuzzFeed A Border Patrol Officer temporarily left five women and their children in the care of the United Constitutional Patriots.

<p content = "Videos of hot, thirsty families who collapsed in the sand caused the & nbsp;ACLU of New Mexico& nbsp; ask the intervention of the representatives of the State. Thursday, & nbsp;the organization sent a letter& nbsp; to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Attorney General Hector Balderas. "data-reactid =" 27 "type =" text "> Videos of hot, thirsty families who were shaking in the sand prompted the ACLU of New Mexico to request the intervention of government officials. On Thursday, the organization sent a letter to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Attorney General Hector Balderas.

"The trumpy racism of the Trump administration has encouraged white nationalists and fascists to flagrantly violate the law," reads the ACLU's letter. "This has no place in our state: we can not allow armed and racist armed militias to kidnap and detain people who are seeking asylum."

Peter Simonson, executive director of the New Mexico ACLU, told Yahoo Lifestyle that the group's actions were illegal. "They say that they make arrests of citizens, but these can only be executed in the context of a crime – crossing the border is a crime, at least during the first offense" .

The United Constitutional Patriots, however, may be committing federal and state crimes such as kidnapping, illegal imprisonment and police usurpation, Simonson said. "They wear camouflage badges and are made by themselves, but they are not supplemented by US border control."

<p content = "A representative of & nbsp;US Customs and Border Protection Service& nbsp; tells Yahoo Lifestyle that it "does not approve of private organizations or groups taking matters into their own hands". "data-reactid =" 33 "type =" text "> A US Customs and Border Protection representative told Yahoo Lifestyle that he" does not approve of private groups or organizations taking over the issues of application".

"Interference by civilians in law enforcement matters could have legal and legal consequences for all parties involved. Border security operations are complex and require highly skilled professionals with sufficient resources to protect the country. The Border Patrol welcomes help from the community and encourages anyone who witnesses or suspects an illegal activity to call 911, or the US Border Patrol Line 1-877-872-7435, "said the representative.

But the government ignores or condones illegal activities, the ACLU said. "To our knowledge, the border control officers have made at least two trips to retrieve the immigrants that the group of vigilantes organized under the threat of arms," says Simonson. "The forces of order have the obligation to hold this group accountable. It's an explosive situation.

In a statement to Yahoo Lifestyle, New Mexico's Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said "that migrant families could be threatened in any way upon arrival at our border – often after an incredibly difficult journey – is totally unacceptable It goes without saying that ordinary citizens do not have the power to arrest or detain anyone.Our office and our state police are in coordination with the prosecutor's office. general and the local police to determine what happened and what can be done. "

Attorney General Hector Balderas also sent a statement to Yahoo Lifestyle about the situation.

"My office has been informed that this week, an armed group has arrested nearly 300 people near Sunland Park, New Mexico," he said. "These people should not attempt to exercise the authority reserved for the forces of order."

<p content = "Benvie and a representative of United Constitutional Patriots did not respond to Yahoo Style of Life's interview requests." Benvie told the & nbsp;New York Times& nbsp; that he simply issues "a verbal arrest of citizen". "data-reactid =" 41 "type =" text "> Benvie and a representative of United Constitutional Patriots did not respond to Yahoo Lifestyle's interview requests. Benvie told the Minister New York Times that it simply delivers "a verbal arrest of the citizen".

<p content = "" If these people follow our verbal orders, we keep them until the border patrol arrives, "Benvie told the New York Times. "The border patrol never asked us to withdraw." "Data-reactid =" 42 "type =" text ">" If these people follow our verbal orders, we keep them until the arrival of the Border Patrol, "said Benvie at the New York Times. "The border patrol never asked us to withdraw."

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