US militias head for the border, agitated by Trump's call to arms

FALFURRIAS, Tex. – Armed civil groups and border guards have heard a call for arms in President Trump's warnings about threats to US security posed by caravans of Central American migrants traveling to Mexico. They pack coolers and tents, oil rifles and prepare aerial drones. They plan to create their own caravans and have their American troops follow at the border.

"We will observe and inform, and we will offer our help in any way possible," said Shannon McGauley, a Dallas suburban handmaid, president of Texas Minutemen. McGauley said he was preparing to travel to Rio Grande in the coming days.

"We have already proven ourselves and we will do it again," he said.

McGauley and others were urged by the president's call to restore order and defend the country against what Trump called an "invasion," as thousands of Central Americans migrate slowly south Mexico towards the US border. Trump insisted that "unknowns from the Middle East", "very tough fighters" and a large number of violent criminals travel among women, children and families walking north.

[Migrant caravan: What Trump’s threats sound like to the Central Americans trudging north]

According to McGauley, the Texas Minutemen have 100 volunteers on their way to Rio Grande who want to help stop migrants, and more likely on the way.

"I can not give a number," McGauley said. "My phone has been ringing continuously for seven days. You have other militias, as well as spouses and wives, residents of Oregon and Indiana. We even have two of Canada. "

When asked if his group planned to deploy with weapons, McGauley laughed. "It's Texas, man," he says.

And yet, the prospect of seeing armed militiamen appear alongside thousands of US soldiers – with border patrol officers, police officers and migrants – is considered serious enough for military planners to warn commanders of the Army.

According to Newsweek's military planning documents, the military is concerned about the arrival of "unregulated militia members who self-deploy at the border to provide support" to US customs and security services. borders.

[Army assessment of migrant caravans undercuts Trump’s rhetoric]

The assessment estimates that 200 members of the militia could come forward. "They operate in the guise of citizen patrols," the report says, while warning "unregulated militia incidents stealing National Guard equipment during deployments."

The military report did not provide more details on the alleged thefts.

Manuel Padilla Jr., a senior border police officer in the area of ​​the agency for the illegal crossing of the Rio Grande Valley, said he had given no instructions to field officers or landowners whose properties are adjacent to the river. But he plans to meet with community members in the coming week, he said, to address their concerns.

"We have no specific information about the militias," said Padilla, who can be reached by phone along the border. "We've seen them in the past, and when the situation starts to get busy, we need to make sure the community is aware of their presence."

"But they do it themselves," Padilla said.

[Trump vows to block asylum seekers in caravan but offers few details]

McGauley added that, in addition to weapons and camping gear, his group would have night vision goggles and aerial drones with thermal detection equipment, able to operate in the dark. He stressed that the group would report any suspicious activity to the authorities and take into account the instructions of border patrol agents or military personnel.

Several landowners in the area said they did not want militias to be present.

Michael Vickers, veterinarian and breeder living one hour north of the border at Falfurrias, said he would not let any militia members from outside his area visit his property and that He doubted that most landowners would trust strangers.

"These are guys who have a big mouth and have no substance," said Vickers, a Republican leader of Texas' 300 Border Volunteers. The group does not consider itself a militia, although it patrols ranches to intercept migrants walking through the bush in an attempt to avoid checkpoints on the border patrol. The group uses ATVs, night vision goggles, searchlights and trained dogs.

"The people of [Rio Grande] called us, "said Vickers. His group is "waiting", he said, adding, "We can have 100 volunteers in a hot zone in four to eight hours.

"We have already talked to a group of landowners who wanted to know if we would be able to operate if the border patrol could not be there to prevent their property from being vandalized and their crops spoiled."

"We are ready to move," he said.

[South Texas county faces wave of migrant deaths]

Others in South Texas are less enthusiastic.

Lucy Kruse, 96, said that immigrants often stopped on her property while they walked in the bush, sometimes entering a small cabin to sleep. His family's ranch is in the middle of the thorny vegetation of mesquite, cactus and tawny grass, 30 km north of the border.

While migrant caravans are heading north, she and other landowners in the region are worried that the number of intruders going on their ranches will increase dramatically. But many say that militias coming to the area are also a threat.

"I will not leave the militia on my land," said Kruse. "These are civilians who find themselves in a situation where the border patrol is supposed to control and make decisions. They could damage property or harm workers. I guess they'd be happy to pull the trigger. If they shoot at someone, they could simply say that the person they shot was seizing a gun. "

Joe Metz, 80, lives in what looks like a tropical pastoral paradise near Mission, a town of 84,000 in the Rio Grande Valley. A large green sugar cane grows at the edge of the big river and citrus fruits dot the small sandy hillsides.

The Rio Grande is located less than 2 km from the Metz lounge window and part of the border wall runs through its property. For years, he saw the borders cross the river and cross his country, their first step on American soil. The wall has slowed down the flow considerably, he said, but between 50 and 100 people a day still cross the neighboring farm.

He fears that the caravan, which has many women and children, will invade the area, but he does not want armed militia on his farm.

"The militia must simply stay where it is," said Metz, a Republican. "We do not need fanatics. We do not need anyone with guns. Why do they have weapons? I have been dealing with stowaways for 30 years and all were afraid to ask for help. Militias must stay in the north where they belong. We do not use them here. They could shoot someone or hurt someone.

[Trump on throwing rocks at the border: Military will consider that a threat]

But the heir of the largest and most influential ranch in the state disagrees. Stephen J. "Tio" Kleberg, who spent most of his life in the 825,000-acre King Ranch outside Kingsville, said he would allow militia groups into its ranch, larger than the state of Rhode Island.

"I think that if the [caravan members] cross the river, they must be overtaken and sent back, "said Kleberg, who wears a mustache shaped handlebar and chews an extinct cigar.

"Once on American soil, they must be arrested and detained. We do not have enough border patrols, ICEs and road patrols to manage them. If we have 2,000 or 3,000 people, we will need the militia, "said Kleberg.

Miroff reported from Washington.