Union Pacific railroad on Tuesday ordered members of the United Constitutional Patriots (UCP) off of a stretch of land that the right-wing border militia was occupying, dealing a temporary setback to the group.
NBC News’ Cal Perry first reported that the railroad owned the land where UCP’s camp was based, and had told militia members camped there that they needed to leave. State police accompanied police officers for Union Pacific during the eviction effort.
On orders from Union Pacific, the United Constitutional Patriots border militia is evicted from its campsite, which sits on railroad land, @CalNBC reports: pic.twitter.com/91L2uTBi5i
— Matt Shuham (@mattshuham) April 23, 2019
“They promised us we could stay ’til Friday, and now they’ve changed their mind,” one UCP member nicknamed “Viper” told Perry, referring to Union Pacific. He added, while packing his tent: “We’re going to stay in the area.”
Perry reported on-air: “They’re going to move, I would say, about a quarter-mile away. They’re going to try to find some piece of private property to move onto so that they’re not at the whims of the local officials.”
The border militia, which claims to have aided in the apprehension of multiple hundreds of people over the past two months, recently made headlines after new videos it posted online showed militia members rounding up dozens of families, including young children, attempting to cross the border. The militia members are armed and some videos show themselves falsely identifying themselves as federal agents.
The militia’s leader, Larry Mitchell Hopkins, was arrested over the weekend and charged with being in possession of a firearm as a felon. In an affidavit, the FBI said it had become aware in late 2017 that Hopkins “allegedly made the statement that the United Constitutional Patriots were training to assassinate George Soros, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama, because of these individuals’ support of Antifa.”
Many people crossing the border during the Trump administration have eagerly sought out border agents in order to declare their intent to apply for asylum. The DHS inspector general said in an October report that the administration’s move to “meter,” or limit the pace of individuals allowed to seek asylum at ports of entry likely encouraged more illegal crossings by asylum seekers.
Perry posted pictures and videos of the eviction on Twitter Tuesday.
HAPPENING NOW. The Union Pacific railroad with an assist from the State Police have given the folks camped near Sunland Park NM 30 min to vacate the area. #MSNBC #NBCNews pic.twitter.com/HoKzfN8IbJ
— Cal Perry (@CalNBC) April 23, 2019
“Camp” being packed up under watchful eye of railroad & NM State police. #MSNBC #NBCNews pic.twitter.com/05gILMjHIx
— Cal Perry (@CalNBC) April 23, 2019
“Viper” says they had until Friday. Says they will stay in the area. #MSNBC #NBCNews pic.twitter.com/3wCGLn8Va4
— Cal Perry (@CalNBC) April 23, 2019
Clearing of camp ends peacefully. pic.twitter.com/f8aIspm0em
— Cal Perry (@CalNBC) April 23, 2019
