Last remaining ‘Border Patriots’ leave campsite near ‘Anapra Gap’
The last remaining veterans who set up a camp near a gap in the border barrier in order to alert Border Patrol about illegal crossings have left the area.
“This is a very disappointing day. We were just working to protect America,” said one of the veterans.
On Tuesday, Sunland Park Police and police officers with the Union Pacific railroad company told the United Constitutional Patriots its camp was on property owned by the City of Sunland Park and the railroad company. The police officers told the group it had 30 minutes to leave the property.
The group packed up and left the area shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The United Constitutional Patriots, a group of retired veterans, set up a camp near the Anapra Gap, the spot where the existing border barrier ends. Undocumented immigrants regularly cross into the U.S. illegally via the opening in the barrier. Others cross into the U.S. to request asylum with U.S. Border Patrol agents.
The Patriots, who say they are armed for their own protection, have come under fire for detaining groups of migrants until Border Patrol agents arrive at the scene. In an exclusive interview with ABC-7, a spokesman for the group confirmed they were detaining groups of migrants until Border Patrol agents arrived.
Over the weekend, the FBI arrested the group’s leader, Larry Hopkins, and charged him for allegedly being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Viper, a veteran at the camp who has not provided is legal name, told ABC-7 he and other members plan to set up another camp without the United Costitutional Patriots. Viper told ABC-7 his new group will simply be called “The Patriots.”
When asked what will happen if members of the United Costitutional Patriots ask to join his new camp, Viper told ABC-7, “It won’t happen. I won’t let them.”
