Thread: Militia Threatens to Block Traffic at International Bridges

Militia Threatens to Block Traffic at International Bridges

Posted: Sep 11, 2014 6:41 PM
Updated: Sep 11, 2014 6:43 PM

McALLEN - Law enforcement officials and city leaders from across the Rio Grande Valley are preparing for what they say could result in tense moments or violence.

Officials say they received word that members of a militia are threatening to block ports of entry.

In Starr County, international bridge authorities met with Customs and Border Protection officials Thursday. Their goal was to discuss the potential problem and find a plan of action.

Starr County has international bridges in Rio Grande City, Roma and Falcon Dam.

Officials received word that members of a militia plan to protest illegal crossings by blocking traffic on Sept. 20.

Rio Grande City Mayor Ruben Villarreal said members of the group have a right to express their opinion. His is concerned about the group's intent, though.

"What can we expect? I don't know. The unknown becomes an issue that we really got to prepare for," Villarreal said.

"I'm a 100 percent sure that with the National Guard, with DPS, with Border Patrol and local law enforcement, we'll communicate and we'll handle whatever comes," he said.

"The level of communication that exists doesn't get talked about enough. It's an extraordinary amount of communication," Villarreal said.

Villarreal said he is worried about safety.

"If they're here to block traffic, to be a hindrance between traffic and the port of entry, that causes a problem. It's a huge safety issue," Villarreal said.

Villarreal said blocking international traffic could impact the local economy.

"A port of entry is not just a port of entry for people; it's also a port of entry for commerce. There are hundreds of millions of dollars that transact at the ports of entry. If their intent is to cause a disruption at a port of entry, it's not only a matter of people, it's a matter of commerce as well," he said.

Villarreal said he is concerned about possible violence.

"I know that the state of Texas provides for them to be able to display their firearms," he said.

"I'm not going to lie to you; it's going to make us nervous. We're not used to seeing firearms being openly displayed," he said.

Villarreal said even though they're not familiar with the militia, they plan to be prepared.

"We've never dealt with militia here in Starr County. We don't know what their temperament is or their personality might be. I can tell you that knowing that they might be here ... helps us prepare for what ever may come," he said.

http://www.krgv.com/news/militia-thr...ional-bridges/

http://www.alipac.us/f12/anti-illega...mexico-310235/

http://www.alipac.us/f9/border-break...-entry-310833/

"Shut Down All Ports" Protest Doesn't Receive Much Support

But, Organizers haven't called off plans yet

Photo: U-T San Diego/Edward Sifuentes

by José Luis Sánchez
September 12 2014

UNITED STATES. A couple of weeks ago, a coalition of anti-immigrant groups have announced plans to block 25 ports of entry with Mexico on September 20th, and invite thousands to participate in the protest. The protest also supports the cause of the former marine who is detained in Mexico after entering the country via Tijuana with a small arsenal of weapons and ammo, It doesn't look as though the call to block the border is garnering much support, although organizers claim that they will continue with plans regardless. The website "MexicoNewsDaily.com" looked into how many people have confirmed attendance via their Facebook page, and only 101 people have, even though the organizer invited over two thousand people from various similar groups.

Another 29 "maybe" will join. Of course, many hundreds more may show up without confirming via Facebook, but it is worth noting that "MexicoNewsDaily.com" has not located other pages pushing support for the Shut Down All Ports event.

"The Shutdown will stay in place until our goals are achieved", said Rob Chupp, one of the organizers of Shut Down All Ports."

Their "non-negotiable" goals include:
Immediately and unconditionally Free Sgt. Tahmooressi; install an electric fence along the border (or equivalent) with constant military presence to seal off the border completely;apply all immigration laws without exception; immediately end all federal and state government financial, educational, and medical assistance to illegal aliens; make Mexico pay for 50% of all costs associated with detaining, processing, and deporting undocumented immigrants.

They state that they will use vehicles to stop all traffic to and from Mexico at all southern ports of entry. One of the organizers of the event has asked that those that plan on going to the event confirm, in order to adequately prepare enough food, camping areas, cars, etc. If not enough people confirm, the event will not go forward.

Now, wouldn't that be a shame....

- See more at: http://www.sandiegored.com/noticias/....yqTCNEqH.dpuf

Rob Chupp, one of the organizers of Shut Down All Ports."

1. Who is Ron Chubb?
2. Who are the other organizers?
3. A coalition of groups? How can someone we have never heard of be leading a 'coalition of groups' that are not even listed?


Mysterious.

W

"Rob Chupp, an Indiana man who has been active in one of those rabid militia groups along the border, and together they’ve come up with a plan: “Shut Down All Ports.”


http://www.latimes.com/local/abcaria...mn.html#page=2


http://www.alipac.us/f12/anti-illega...mexico-310235/

by Sergio Chapa
Posted: 09.12.2014 at 12:35 AM





A group of self-described "American Patriots" is organizing to shut down all border crossings with Mexico on September 20th as a protest over illegal immigration and other issues.

The group Shut Down All Ports has taken to social media to deliver its message.

According to the group's website, organizers want the federal government to come up with a permanent and legitimate solution for dealing with the Illegal Immigration issue.

Both "unsettled" and "deeply concerned" with the Obama administration, the group wants the federal government to "enforce our rule of law" and bring home jailed former Marine Andrew Tahmooressi.

The former marine remains in custody in Mexico under weapons charges after he allegedly made a wrong turn and ended up in Tijuana with guns in his car.

Organizers want to simultaneously shut down all border crossings with Mexico in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas on September 20th at 8:00 a.m. PST.

"Patriots will simply drive their vehicles (the bigger the better) up to the Port of Entry and turn off your engine," organizers wrote on their website. "Both sides of the Port need to be closed, to ensure this protest is as big as possible (this is not the time to carpool). You may need to make a U-turn to be able to get into place. Please do this safely."

It's not clear if there are any participants signed up in the Rio Grande Valley but the time of the protest would be at 6:00 a.m. CST during rush hour traffic on the region's international bridges.

http://www.valleycentral.com/news/st...7#.VBR43BZoRFd

Sep. 14, 2014 7:50am Zach Noble
The Blaze

Officials in Starr County, Texas, are bracing for a potentially major event: militia forces guarding the U.S. border.

Officials received word that militia members are planning to block bridges into Mexico in Rio Grande City, Roma and Falcon Dam on Saturday, Sept. 20, KRGV-TV reported, as a way to protest illegal border crossings.



“If they’re here to block traffic, to be a hindrance between traffic and the port of entry, that causes a problem,” said Rio Grande City Mayor Ruben Villarreal. ”It’s a huge safety issue.”



He expressed concern for the “hundreds of millions of dollars” in commerce that he said flows over the bridges, and he said he was worried about the militia’s guns.

“I know that the state of Texas provides for them to be able to display their firearms,” Villareal told KRGV. ”I’m not going to lie to you; it’s going to make us nervous. We’re not used to seeing firearms being openly displayed.”

More details on the militia were not immediately available, and Villareal said, ”We’ve never dealt with militia here in Starr County.”

He added a plug for government forces — the same government forces whose ineffectiveness the militia members are presumably protesting.

“I’m a 100 percent sure that with the National Guard, with DPS, with Border Patrol and local law enforcement, we’ll communicate and we’ll handle whatever comes,” said Villareal.

UPDATE: The @shutdownallport Twitter account, claiming to represent the group behind the border closure, has emphasized that the planned bridge blocking is intended to be a peaceful affair.

“No weapons (unless authorized to legally carry) are allowed,” read a statement relayed by the account. “This is a peaceful protest to air our grievances to our government, as allowed by the Constitution.”

The statement also questioned the use of the term “militia” to refer to the group.

“Stating that ‘we’ are militia is a distraction and intended to stop this event,” the statement said.

A “travel advisory” ends the statement:

“Please be aware that traveling across the US/Mexico border will be impeded, beginning on September 20, 2014, with no designated end date.”

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014...rd-the-border/

Two militia members arrested after leaving illegal gun in store near Brownsville

BY KOLTEN PARKER : SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

• 
  Militia member Steven Kurt Brooks was arrested for unlawfully carrying a weapon at a business that sales alcohol on Sept. 10, 2014. Booking photo courtesy KRGV.
  

RELATED STORIES

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SAN ANTONIO — Two volunteer militia members who were arrested near Brownsville last week after leaving an illegal gun in a convenience store will not be able to rejoin the group, the leader of the militia group said.

Steven Kurt Brooks and Richard Coonie Smith were arrested in Cameron County on Sept. 10 after Brooks left a 9 mm handgun, which he was not licensed to carry, in a Stripes bathroom, according to KRGV. Brooks, who remains in the Cameron County jail as of Wednesday, was charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon at a business that sells alcohol.

Smith told police he carried the weapon into the store, which was disproved by surveillance video, and he was arrested for making a false police report, according to KRGV. Smith is no longer in jail, according to Cameron County's list of current inmates.

Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio told the television station that he is concerned about the militia's presence in Brownsville.

K.C. Massey, the leader of the militia group called Camp Lonestar, said the men were volunteers from out of state and will not be welcome back in the group because it damages the group's agenda and reputation, according to Raw Story.

Massey said Brooks and Smith are the fifth and sixth member to be banned from the group since it began monitoring the border on private property on the border south of Brownsville, according to KRGV. He declined to specify the number of members based at Camp Lonestar.

Last month, a Border Patrol agent fired four shots at an armed militia member from Camp Lonestar near the Rio Grande while pursuing a group of immigrants near Brownsville. The volunteer militia member did not face charges for the incident but had served prison time for felony burglary charges about 15 years ago.

Chris Davis, a 37-year-old truck driver and leader of another militia group, Operation Secure Our Border: Laredo Sector, was discharged from the Army in 2001 "under other than honorable conditions in lieu of trial by court martial," according to a summary of Davis' military service obtained by the San Antonio Express-News.

The details of Davis' discharge are protected from public view through the Privacy Act of 1974.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Two-militiamen-arrested-after-leaving-illegal-gun-5761988.php

Related thread

http://www.alipac.us/f12/border-brid...elcome-311065/