Armed militia detain migrants seeking asylum

An armed militia group detained nearly 300 people at the U.S.-Mexico border this week, according to New Mexico's attorney general. The group call themselves the United Constitutional Patriots and said their actions are like "a verbal citizen's arrest." They've posted videos of themselves detaining migrant families before handing them over to U.S. Border Patrol. Militia leaders said members were told not to point their guns at the migrants.

Class discussion: Is it a crime to for a private citizen to threaten someone with a gun if they aren’t threatening physical violence? Militia leaders said the migrants could have left if they wanted. Would you feel free to leave if you were surrounded by a group of armed people dressed in camouflage and face masks? Do you think private militias help or hinder law enforcement? What should be done with the flood of families fleeing violence and poverty in Central America?

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