This is one of the most radical groups in the United States. Private “militia” Patriots for America through the years patrolled the southern US border with heavy weaponsto track down illegal immigrants. — If the regime in Washington does not guard the border, we will do it ourselves, said militia leader Samuel Hall in an interview for Blick shortly before Donald Trump's election victory.
Exactly a year ago, after weeks of discussions, the controversial Patriots took our reporter with them on night border patrols. A year later, the Trump administration boasts that the number of illegal border crossings has dropped to “zero.”. So is there nothing left for Patriots for America to do? Blick asked them and found out who the new “dark enemy” that the Texas “militia” has been fighting lately is.
It's really gone quiet at the border, admits Samuel Hall in a video call. – There are only crickets chirping. Nobody crosses the border illegally anymore, says a former pastor and car salesman who wears a military cap with a cross made of swords. There are heart-shaped decorative elements on the wall behind it. Officially, the number of illegal immigrants in the US has fallen to its lowest level since 1970. “Trump took action after Biden's chaos,” Hall says. “He made us redundant.
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Over the course of 38 months, he and his brothers (and sisters!) in arms undertook 29 tours lasting from five to 15 days each. Along with 19 like-minded people, Hall drove and walked the border in West Texas night after night to relieve border authorities he perceived as overburdened. In the US, this is a controversial but legal activity.
“We used our method to locate 23 suspects”
The fact that Hall and his team sometimes marched through the streets of border villages with heavy firearms on their self-proclaimed “missions” irritated some residents. Reporter Blick was on the scene when a concerned homeowner in the border town of Eagle Pass called police because he was concerned about the presence of armed men wearing night vision goggles in front of his house. But Hall says: “It was necessary to protect our country.”
After Trump's inauguration, Patriots for America has canceled all further border expeditions for now. – We are no longer needed there, says the Texan. Trump declared a national emergency, sent thousands of troops to the border and increased the security budget. This had an effect.
“Of course I miss the sense of brotherhood,” Hall says. He and his troops always stayed in an Airbnb at the historic military fort in Brackettville, Texas. – But I'm glad we have secure borders again in America – he adds. This benefits not only U.S. citizens, but also migrants who no longer have to make the dangerous journey.
“Patriots for America” in November 2024Blick.ch
It's quiet on the border, but evil thrives on American internet forums. Hall's patriots are once again hunting down child molesters on the Internet, just as they did before their first border raids.
– Just last month we used our method to tracking down 23 suspected pedophiles and reporting them to the appropriate authorities Hall says proudly. Patriots for America is currently devoting their full attention to the “dark enemy” within the country. For now, Hall wants to keep the Patriots' methods of hunting down pedophiles to himself.
The Patriots' next mission: paying off their debts
What about controversial operations against illegal immigrants in the interior of the country, tens of thousands of whom Trump has arrested and deported? — We would be there immediately if the authorities needed help in the fight against gangs like MS 13 and Tren de Aragua, says Hall. If the situation on the border suddenly changed in the near future, he and his “fighters” would also be ready at any time. – I hope we won't be needed anymore. But if it happens, we are ready like never before, he declares.
But Hall can no longer afford it. Patriots for America spent up to PLN 5,000. hole. [ok. 18 tys. zł] per tour – for Airbnb, food and gas. — 29 missions cost us approximately PLN 200,000. hole. [ok. 727 tys. zł] – Hall enumerates. His militia relies on donations. In total, they collected only PLN 29,000. hole. [ok. 105 tys. zł]. “I still have debts to pay off for at least three years,” he laments. Keeping America safe is an expensive hobby.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
