Border Patrol arrests heavily-armed member of 'Texas Militia'

Border Patrol arrested a heavily-armed man who called himself a member of a Texas militia. He carried a pistol, an automatic long rifle, two large knives, a can of mace, a baton and tactical military garb. Border Patrol arrested a heavily-armed man who called himself a member of a Texas militia. He carried a pistol, an automatic long rifle, two large knives, a can of mace, a baton and tactical military garb. Photo: Laredo Police Department Photo: Laredo Police Department Image 1 of / 48 Caption Close Border Patrol arrests heavily-armed member of 'Texas Militia' 1 / 48 Back to Gallery

On Wednesday night, Laredo law enforcement arrested a heavily armed man who called himself a member of a Texas militia who was conducting his own border security operation.

Thomas Rivera, 23, was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol and turned over to the Laredo Police Department. He is charged with misdemeanor unlawful carry and felony possession of a prohibited weapon.

On his person, Rivera had a can of mace, a baton, two knives (one with a 9.5 inch blade), a .45 caliber Glock pistol and a 1977 Romarm SA/Cugir 7.62 caliber rifle with two banana clips. He wore tactical gear, including a green camouflage uniform, a Kevlar vest, water canteens and a patch with a Texas flag that said, "secure the border."

He told officers he was a member of a Texas militia.

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"We really don't see that too often here," said LPD spokesman Joe Baeza. "He doesn't belong to any one particular group, it seems. There's no single plain Texas militia group, but many branches. I don't know which of the self-declared Texas militias he is from."

In 2014, Texans organized a handful of militias under various names in response to the migrant crisis, when tens of thousands of immigrant children were seeking refuge in Texas. A cursory online search turned up at least three groups assuming the title "Texas Militia," while others called themselves "Patriots," "Oathkeepers" or "Three Percenters."

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"Our oath is to protect and defend the constitution against all enemies, domestic or abroad," said the commander in a Beaumont unit of group called "Texas State Militia," who requested his name not be used. He responded to a query sent through the group's Facebook page, and said he organizes between 40 and 50 men who do community service, disaster aid and firearms training.

The militia has dozens of units across the state, mostly made up of former military or law enforcement. In order to start a new unit, someone must apply to be a new commander, undergo a background check and pass unanimous approval by all state commanders. But, he said, his group is not the only organized Texas militia.

"There are many different organization, ours is just one of them. There are certain fringe groups that we don't associate with," he said. "We want to take the stigma off of militias. We're not terrorists; we're not a racial group."

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The website of another Texas militia indicated the group would host a "military training exercise" in Colmesneil, about 70 miles northeast of Houston, this weekend.

Baeza of LPS said Rivera was found outside a Laredo home, standing with two unarmed men around 11 p.m. One of the other men told officers they had met Rivera in December, and he had introduced himself as a member of a Texas militia, willing to provide private security services.

The man claimed illicit trafficking, linked to the border region, was happening near his home, so he hired Rivera to guard his residence. He said it was not the first time.