| NEWS | Truck from p 14 theories, based on half-truths about human traficking at the border. One of the groups asking for help from truckers is Veterans On Patrol, which already has a stronghold at the border. The group, founded by local vigilante Michael Meyer, has worked with the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia. It spreads wild, Pizzagate-style conspiracies of large-scale child sex trafficking rings that they are working to uncover along the border. In Pizzagate, conspiracists falsely claimed that a quirky D.C. pizza restaurant was connected to a sex trafficking ring. “[Veterans on Patrol] has over the years pushed this narrative that their organiza- tion is fighting human trafficking and child CBP, a frequent refrain of groups like Veterans On Patrol. “We work with Border Patrol agents. I have multiple agents as my sources,” he said. In response to detailed questions about Meyer’s claims, CBP spokesman John Mennell provided New Times a statement that said that the agency “does not endorse or support any private group or organiza- tion taking matters into their own hands as it could have disastrous personal and public safety consequences.” Using the group’s personal Telegram channel, members discussed their plans to use trucks in their activities. “Truckers have shown up,” one message, written by a user named Allen on February 21, reads. “More have contacted [us] from Virginia, possibly making their way down… We can make excuses or we can answer the call!” Another newly formed group, named America Against Trafficking, claims to be a collective of truckers opposed to human trafficking at the U.S.-Mexico border. According to the Steven Hsieh The border fence that separates Nogales, Arizona, from Nogales, Mexico. smuggling,” Cruz said. But the group’s political rhetoric is “steeped in anti-immigrant narratives. It’s a lot of racist material,” he said. Meyer has begun requesting that truckers drive down to the border to “volunteer in our child search-and-rescue mission,” he said in a phone call with New Times. Meyer said he hopes truckers will park their vehicles along sections of the slatted metal border wall where migrants have attempted to cross over. But he denies any affiliation with the convoys headed to the U.S. Capitol. Meyer spoke at length about the supposed child trafficking and “child dumping” his group is fighting. Experts say this is disinformation that distracts from genuine cross-border human trafficking, which research shows happens but is rare, making up only a tiny minority of trafficking cases, even in border towns. Often, human trafficking is conflated with human smuggling or providing assistance to cross the border illegally. These are distinct, advocates emphasize. Meyer also asserted that he works with group’s Telegram channel, it is planning a rally next month to “kick off the border blockade against child and drug trafficking.” The post requested the presence of truckers and cars, which would blockade the border wall “from Yuma to the New Mexico border.” “We are not going to take it anymore!” the flyer for the rally reads. Thousands of people have viewed social media posts that promote the blockade. Cruz, the analyst, said that the new activity was par for the course in terms of the history of border vigilantism. And ultimately it would benefit these groups, he said. Even if volunteers didn’t “show up in droves.” The volunteer recruitment efforts were being spread far and wide on social media. “In essence, I think [Veterans On Patrol] gets a lot of exposure. But they also get a lot of things like donations,” he said. Veterans On Patrol frequently posts photos of the donations that they receive from those across the country that follow them, which include Visa gift cards and electronics, as well as supplies the group gives to migrant children. “They’re just grifters,” Cruz said. Meyer rejected these criticisms. “They thank us for the offerings,” he said, saying that some of the donations have gone to care packages for migrant children. Now, the group will soon have 18-wheelers, as well. 17 phoenixnewtimes.com | CONTENTS | FEEDBACK | OPINION | NEWS | FEATURE | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | PHOENIX NEW TIMES MARCH 17TH– MARCH 23RD, 2022
