Funny how in the eyes of the two leading Hispanic television networks, unauthorized immigrants practically have a “right” to cross over onto the U.S. side of the border, but American citizens, in this case volunteers aiding the United States Border Patrol (BP) in their increasingly overwhelming task, are all dangerous troublemakers.
Case in point: From Friday, April 19 through Wednesday April 24, 2019 the principal national evening newscasts of Univision and Telemundo spent over eleven minutes demonizing the United Constitutional Patriots (who, according to Univision, have since changed their name to Observers and Defenders of the Border) for patrolling a section of the border in New Mexico and notifying the BP when unauthorized immigrants entered illegally so the feds could proceed to apprehend them.
Telemundo was the most venomous in its negative coverage of the militiamen, featuring a chyron that read Racist and Illegal Groups Detain Migrants throughout one of their reports. Yet, in the midst of the nearly week-long smear-fest, at least Univision's reporting gave the organization’s Hispanic spokesperson, Anthony Agüero, an opportunity to defend the group. To his credit, Anthony was able to offer articulate push back against the networks’ prevailing narrative against his organization.
PEDRO ROJAS, CORRESPONDENT, UNIVISION: Anthony Agüero, spokesperson for the armed militia, said they are victims of serious attacks and threats.
ANTHONY AGÜERO, SPOKESPERSON, UNITED CONSTITUTIONAL PATRIOTS: Now, a person who loves his country and wants to do things right, is something that we consider to be a terrorist? I do not carry weapons, my weapon is my camera and that’s it.
ROJAS: Viper, the self-proclaimed new leader of the group today also told Univision that his group went down from twenty to only eight persons because many had to return to work and that has diminished their ability to patrol. This open space on the border of New Mexico with Mexico has become one of the most frequented by groups of families in this area and at the same time has served as an excuse for groups of armed militias to justify their presence in this area.
ROJAS: Ramiro Cordero is spokesperson of the Border Patrol in El Paso and we asked him how they view the presence of the Constitutional Patriots.
RAMIRO CORDERO, SPOKESPERSON, BORDER PATROL, EL PASO SECTOR: They are entitled to do what they have to do, but they cannot interfere.
ROJAS: Anthony Agüero says that the Border Patrol agents appreciate them.
AGÜERO: I have not seen any kind of dispute or anything and there is respect between both teams.
Essentially supporting Agüero’s words, Ramiro Cordero, Border Patrol agent and spokesperson at El Paso, said about the group - armed for their own protection against criminals and dangerous elements in the notoriously unsafe dessert terrain - “They are entitled to do what they have to do, but they cannot interfere.”
The militiamen were finally forced out of their encampment in Sunland Park, New Mexico, as it was located on property owned by the Union Pacific railroad. However, to quote Telemundo correspondent Edgar Muñoz's, final, telling statement: “The militia who left Sunland Park, none will be detained. And, according to authorities, no one ever complained about their presence in the mountains.” End of story.
