‘Take Our Border Back’ Convoy To Descend on Texas

Thousands of people will reportedly converge on the southern border this week as part of a convoy seeking to stop migrants illegally entering the U.S.

It comes amid Texas’ escalating feud with the Biden administration over immigration enforcement. Last week, the Supreme Court allowed Border Patrol agents to resume cutting razor wire that Texas installed along a stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border. The wire was among a series of aggressive measures that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has taken at the border in a bid to curb illegal crossings. He remained defiant despite the high court’s ruling, saying Texas had a “constitutional right to self-defense.”

Now, the “Take Our Border Back Convoy” is heading to border towns in Texas, Arizona and California to call on the government to secure the southern border.

The group, which is organizing on the Telegram platform, has billed the convoy and accompanying rallies as “peaceful assembly and prayer.”

“Calling all active & retired law enforcement and military, Veterans, Mama Bears, elected officials, business owners, ranchers, truckers, bikers, media and LAW ABIDING, freedom-loving Americans,” the group says on its website and posters promoting the events. “The time is now for We the People to peacefully assemble in honor of our Constitutional Rights to call on our government to Take Action and SECURE OUR BORDERS!”

The plan is for the convoy to leave Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Monday and make a stop in Jacksonville, Florida, before continuing on to Eagle Pass, Texas, according to the group’s website. The convoy will then split up for rallies in three states on Saturday, one near Eagle Pass, another in Yuma, Arizona, and a third in San Ysidro, California.

The group has also raised more than $125,000 from donations on a GiveSendGo page as of Monday morning.

The goal is “to shed light on the obvious dangers posted by wide open Southern borders,” the group said in a press release issued earlier in January. Newsweek has contacted organizers for comment via email.

The convoy’s organizers include QAnon conspiracy theorists, election deniers, and anti-vaxxers, according to Media Matters.

One organizer, Kim Yeater, has reportedly called those involved part of “God’s Army.”

“God’s army is rising up,” she said on a planning call, Vice reported. “We all have been chosen for this time.”

Another organizer said: “This is a biblical, monumental moment that’s been put together by God.”

Texas Rep. Keith Self has expressed support for the convoy and indicated he will attend at least one event.

“I have been informed that there are already thousands of participants planning to attend the ‘Take Our Border Back’ convoy next week and truckers from CANADA will be also be joining!” Self wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “See you there!”

Newsweek has contacted Self for further comment via email.