Bill in Texas Legislature Could Formalize Border Militias, Deputize Citizens to Arrest Migrants
Within the next few weeks, Texas Republicans plan to introduce a bill that would allow the state to train private citizens for “Border Protection Units,” which could then oversee the construction of a border wall and be deputized with the authority to arrest migrants. The bill includes no actual training requirements, meaning dangerously unqualified individuals could be placed on the front lines of border security. Officers of this unit could use “non-deadly force” under the direction of a unit chief appointed by the state’s governor, and any citizens without felony convictions would be allowed to participate in the unit's “operations and functions.” 
 
TTP’s investigations of anti-migrant militias revealed that they have been allowed to flourish on Facebook, where members are free to fundraise, spread harmful misinformation, and share videos of themselves detaining migrants. Creating a unit of legalized vigilantes in this environment would be disastrous, given the existing relationships between militias and anti-government extremist groups. If the Texas bill becomes law, it could serve as a model for other border states and create new dangers for migrants, who have already been harassed and detained by volunteer militias.