PayPal and GoFundMe Ban Militia That Detained 300 Migrants at the Border

PayPal and GoFundMe have banned the militia that made headlines for livestreaming their detention of 300 migrants at the southern border.

The militia, the United Constitutional Patriots (UCP), claims to be comprised of many former law enforcement and military members.

In a statement to BuzzFeed, PayPal claimed that the group violated their “Acceptable Use Policy.”

“The account associated with United Constitutional Patriots has been closed due to a violation of our Acceptable Use Policy,” the spokesperson told BuzzFeed News. “We do not allow PayPal services to be used to promote hate, violence, or other forms of intolerance that is discriminatory.”

GoFundMe has not yet released a statement about the ban.

Mark Cheney, who identified himself to BuzzFeed as the “commander” of the militia, said that the bans have “killed” their efforts.

“They killed us,” Cheney said. “I have to find some other way for people to donate.”

The militia had detained the migrants and then handed them over to Border Patrol. They group, which formed six years ago, have been patrolling the border since November, in hopes that their presence would discourage illegal border crossings.

According to some experts, citizens arrests can only be carried out in the case of a felony — and border crossing is a misdemeanor. Javier Guerra, police chief for the city of Sunland Park, has since told the group that carrying out the citizens arrests is a crime.

Cheney contends that their border patrolling is perfectly legal, and even a “duty.” He also said that members of the militia are in touch with Border Patrol officers on an hourly basis.

“They’re happy we’re here,” he said about Border Patrol. “We have a direct line to the local outpost.”

 

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