FBI arrests leader of U.S. 'patriots' stopping migrants at border

By Andrew Hay

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. soldiers walk next to the border fence between Mexico and the United States, as migrants are seen walking behind the fence, after crossing illegally into the U.S. to turn themselves in, in El Paso, Texas, U.S., in this picture taken from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 3, 2019. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo

 

TAOS, N.M. (Reuters) - The FBI on Saturday said it had arrested Larry Hopkins, the leader of an armed group who have been stopping migrants who illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico.

 

Hopkins, 69, also known as Johnny Horton, was arrested in Sunland Park, New Mexico, on a federal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.

 

Hopkins represents himself as commander of the United Constitutional Patriots (UCP), a small volunteer group camped out near Sunland Park since late February.

 

The UCP describes itself as a "patriot group" helping over-stretched U.S. Border Patrol agents deal with a surge in undocumented migrants.

 

The American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday accused it of being a "fascist militia organization" illegally detaining and kidnapping asylum seekers.

 

Jim Benvie, a spokesman for the UCP, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

Hector Balderas, New Mexico's attorney general, described Hopkins as "a dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families."

 

"Today's arrest by the FBI indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes," Balderas said in a statement.

 

Horton was previously arrested in Oregon in 2006 on suspicion of impersonating a police officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

 

Mexico's government on Saturday said it had "deep concern" about armed groups that intimidate migrants.

 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said it did not support citizens taking law enforcement into their own hands but encouraged the public to be its eyes and ears on the border.

 

"Border Patrol welcomes assistance from the community and encourages anyone who witnesses or suspects illegal activity to call 911, or the U.S. Border Patrol," CBP said in a statement.

 

One UCP member, who declined to be named, said the group are U.S. military veterans who carried weapons for self defence but that they never pointed guns at migrants, as has been reported.

 

"People misconceive what we are doing," the UCP member said. "All we're down there to do is back up Border Patrol. They're so thinned out with all these people coming in."

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-04-21

The police and army are like a union.

They won't do their job, but are quick to arrest anyone that tries to do it in their place.

(Their job = defending the US borders from foreign invaders)

Edited April 21, 20197 yr by BritManToo

5 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Mexico's government on Saturday said it had "deep concern" about armed groups that intimidate migrants.

I'm sure they do. They are busily sending illegals through the country to the US, and if the Patriots stop them crossing they'll be staying in Mexico, which doesn't want them.

They do not stop people from entering the US.   The CBP do not stop people from entering, they arrest or detain them when they do so illegally.   The malitia along the border have been involved in kidnapping, rape and drug trafficking, among other illegal activities.  

 

Here's a little more on the issue:

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mexico-warns-deep-concern-over-armed-groups-u-212137275.html

 

Ellis island, would that be where the patriots ancestors arrived?

53 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Hopkins, 69, also known as Johnny Horton, was arrested in Sunland Park, New Mexico, on a federal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.

I suppose Trump will offer to pay his legal fees?

43 minutes ago, Scott said:

They do not stop people from entering the US.   The CBP do not stop people from entering, they arrest or detain them when they do so illegally.   The malitia along the border have been involved in kidnapping, rape and drug trafficking, among other illegal activities.  

 

Here's a little more on the issue:

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mexico-warns-deep-concern-over-armed-groups-u-212137275.html

 

 

Here is an example of CBP stopping migrants from entering the USA illegally. This took place at the San Ysidro border with Mexico several months ago. It was on all the major US news channels....

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/11/25/us/san-ysidro-port-of-entry-closed/index.html

22 minutes ago, neeray said:

I suppose Trump will offer to pay his legal fees?

And a job lol 

19 minutes ago, bushdoctor said:

 

Here is an example of CBP stopping migrants from entering the USA illegally. This took place at the San Ysidro border with Mexico several months ago. It was on all the major US news channels....

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/11/25/us/san-ysidro-port-of-entry-closed/index.html

Please read about Mexico's response to having tear gas shot into their country.   Not very happy.  

 

In the open stretches of the border, CBP can do nothing until people actually cross the border.   Even when crawling over the fence, it isn't until they drop down on the US side that they are arrested.  

 

1 hour ago, Scott said:

Please read about Mexico's response to having tear gas shot into their country.   Not very happy.  

 

In the open stretches of the border, CBP can do nothing until people actually cross the border.   Even when crawling over the fence, it isn't until they drop down on the US side that they are arrested.  

 

The USA wasn’t very happy with people entering illegally. I doubt if they really care what Mexico thinks when protecting their sovereign border, nor should they.

Edited April 21, 20197 yr by bushdoctor

So, Officials want to have illegal immigrants in the US?

Just tear down the border walls, it's so simple and much easier for immigrants get to the US.

This felon should be hauled to a jail pronto. 

3 hours ago, Scott said:

They do not stop people from entering the US.   The CBP do not stop people from entering, they arrest or detain them when they do so illegally.   The malitia along the border have been involved in kidnapping, rape and drug trafficking, among other illegal activities.  

 

Here's a little more on the issue:

 

This is an absolutely shocking bit of misdirection and absurd speculation from the forums ADMIN no less, and I gotta admit im a bit speechless, and not entirely sure how to reply in such a way that wont get me in trouble. 

2 hours ago, Scott said:

Please read about Mexico's response to having tear gas shot into their country.   Not very happy.  

 

Please let mexico know that we are deeply sorry for having to shoot teargas into the no mans land BETWEEN the border fences, but unless Mexico can stop the hordes of needy people draining our tax dollars, and their literal worse-than-ISIS cartels from shipping their drugs over and killing americans with Fentanyl, its a necessary and minor step.

I am all for the way Thailand handles it's borders … maybe the US Congress can learn something new … I lived in San Diego and have been through "Your Land is Mine … Give Me More … At Least Until My Family Is 100% Taken Care Of" .. or meet my pretty 45 cal girlfriend

3 hours ago, Scott said:

The malitia along the border have been involved in kidnapping, rape and drug trafficking, among other illegal activities. 

And the Mexican cartels guiding the illegal immigrants over aren't?

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

And the Mexican cartels guiding the illegal immigrants over aren't?

 

The militias are ACCUSED of what Scott's talking about by Mexicans and illegals and "civil rights groups" who listen to these people. 

3 hours ago, neeray said:

I suppose Trump will offer to pay his legal fees?

Well said from an obvious “Never Trumper”

Or maybe these are people simply looking to reclaim their lands stolen from previous generations. Are they not patriots themselves

 

One of the hardest "Facts Of Life" that I can't get over is SLAVERY. I have seen it in America, I just wasn't smart enough to understand what was going on around me. My wife had a black immigration attorney in California that opened my eyes … not about black slavery, old news she said, the new norm is now South Americans, trafficked and sold by their owners. It is a world wide epidemic … and the color of your skin is irreverent in todays world.   

Another nutjob in self-styled uniform, Larry Hopkins aka Johnny Horton Jr., who's been convicted in the past for impersonating a peace officer.

 

https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/02/15/heres-new-mexico-militia-leader-johnny-horton-jrs-bizarre-arrest-record

 

Quote

 

Self-proclaimed New Mexico militia leader Johnny Horton Jr. sure can spin a heck of a tale.

Like how he’s in direct contact with President Donald Trump and advising the commander-in-chief on border security. Or how he’s planning to lead hundreds of armed civilians to the Mexico border to ward off caravans of migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.
 

 

 

 

Edited April 21, 20197 yr by metisdead
Edited as per fair use policy.

10 minutes ago, simple1 said:

Moving along it's good to hear vigilantism is deemed unacceptable on the Southern Border

 

The only thing deemed unacceptable is the turd who was in illegal possession of firearms for being a felon which tainted and overshadowed everything they did. Everything else is perfectly legal. Militias are legal. Patrolling is legal. Citizens arrest is legal. 

 

I realize to a non-americas this is crazy but its called liberty. I also realize liberals don't want people they hate to have that much power, which is frankly scary, but well noted. 

Id also like to note to anyone who wants to cite SPLC, that they are in and of themselves a hate group. 

1 hour ago, Thailand Noobie said:

So, Officials want to have illegal immigrants in the US?

Just tear down the border walls, it's so simple and much easier for immigrants get to the US.

Which officials are you referring to?

he will be pardoned by the president for his heroic service to the country. more us citizens will be follow his example since democrats dont care about the safety of us citizens.

 

wbr

roobaa01

2 minutes ago, Thainesss said:

 

The only thing deemed unacceptable is the turd who was in illegal possession of firearms for being a felon which tainted and overshadowed everything they did. Everything else is perfectly legal. Militias are legal. Patrolling is legal. Citizens arrest is legal. 

 

I realize to a non-americas this is crazy but its called liberty. I also realize liberals don't want people they hate to have that much power, which is frankly scary, but well noted. 

So are you saying you're A OK with people you hate to have "that much power"?

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

And the Mexican cartels guiding the illegal immigrants over aren't?

So you're saying that since the cartels are involved in kidnapping, rape and drug trafficking it's OK for the militias to do it too??

Man, you're one sick dude!

1 minute ago, Becker said:

So are you saying you're A OK with people you hate to have "that much power"?

 

Damn right I am. Are you American? If so, you've got the same rules & rights that they do, and I do. 

2 minutes ago, Becker said:

So you're saying that since the cartels are involved in kidnapping, rape and drug trafficking it's OK for the militias to do it too??

Man, you're one sick dude!

I didn't say anything of the sort.

Man, you are one 'ignored' dude!

 

It's amazing how the ignore function makes ThaiVisa such a more pleasant and less confrontational experience.

Edited April 21, 20197 yr by BritManToo

9 minutes ago, Thainesss said:

 

The only thing deemed unacceptable is the turd who was in illegal possession of firearms for being a felon which tainted and overshadowed everything they did. Everything else is perfectly legal. Militias are legal. Patrolling is legal. Citizens arrest is legal. 

 

I realize to a non-americas this is crazy but its called liberty. I also realize liberals don't want people they hate to have that much power, which is frankly scary, but well noted. 

I'll take the word of the New Mexico AG, over yours...

 

"Today's arrest by the FBI indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes," Balderas said in a statement.