It is possible for the sheriffs of these border counties
to deputize citizens for the purpose of detaining illegal
alien invaders.
I don’t believe the person the FBI has arrested is the
groups leader. These guys have regular meetings with
border patrol, and rules of engagement are stressed. The
illegals are falsely reporting armed detention.
Border Patrol officers don’t draw their weapons when
in the presence of illegals unless threatened. These
guys don’t either.
He sounds like a person with a history of exaggeration which at one time got him convicted of a “Felony of False pretenses” or telling people exaggerated nonsense to get money from them. He does not appear to be “a dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families” as described by New Mexican officials.
I think that he is “a leader” in the group not necessarily “the leader” of the group. He is obviously the low hanging fruit, arrested to make it appear that the FBI is still doing the bidding of the Obama administration. We wouldn't want the cheap labor express to get the idea that citizens groups can now stop their felonious activities.