- The convoy is heading to the southern border to prevent migrants from entering the United States.
- The group's leader described their tactics as “local internal defense.”
- It is not clear what the group plans to do once they reach the border.
A caravan of hundreds of people plans to head to the Texas border to prevent migrants from crossing into the United States from Mexico.
The group called “Restore Our Borders” also Organization on Telegram She now has more than 1,600 followers.
Vice reported that one of the group's organizers described them as “God's army“On the planning call.
“It is a historical, biblical moment brought together by God,” one of the organizers said, according to Vice.
Another said: “We are surrounded on all sides by dark forces of evil.”
They said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. But the time is when the rest will arise.”
Pete Chambers, the group's organizer, claimed he was a Green Beret. He explained the group's plans while He talks to right-wing conspiracy supporter Alex Jones On his Infowars show on Thursday.
“That's what the Green Berets do,” Chambers said. “Unconventional warfare is our bread and butter. Now we do homeland defense.”
“What gets us to the enemy quickly is discovery, repair, termination, exploitation, analysis, and dissemination,” Chambers said, referring to the military operation. “This is what we did in Syria when we eliminated ISIS very quickly.”
He said the group would work with members sympathetic to law enforcement, whom he described as “constitutionally sound.”
The convoy is scheduled to depart on Monday, starting from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and will organize three marches in San Ysidro, California. Yuma, Arizona; and Eagle Pass, Texas, on February 3.
The group has subgroups on Telegram for drivers and passengers in those three states to coordinate transportation.
The website describes the event as a “peaceful gathering” inviting all “law-abiding, freedom-loving Americans.”
Wired published an article describing the group as “Armed convoy“, after which the group wrote on Telegram: “We do not call for taking up arms. A call to deal with anyone crossing the border. We are here to peacefully protest First Amendment rights and prayers!”
The group said one of its goals is to immediately stop illegal immigration and close borders. It is not clear how the group plans to confront migrants at the border and prevent them from entering the country.
Texas National Guard troops In confrontation with the federal government After they stretched barbed wire in a park on the banks of the Rio Grande, where migrants often cross.
Chambers described those forces as “holding the line” and said his convoy would head to an area about 30 miles away.
Republican Rep. Keith Self of Texas said Supports the convoy.
Tensions over immigration are rising, and the issue seems likely to be a major issue in the presidential election later this year.
Immigration levels have reached record levels, US officials say 300,000 people He tried to cross the border in December.
