Texas Border Convoy Descends into Antisemitism

A video is circulating on social media of an antisemitic conspiracy theory being promoted at a Texas border rally.

The video shows Michael Yon making false claims regarding so-called "terrorists coming across the border being funded by Jewish money." Yon was speaking at a "Take Back Our Border" convoy in Texas.

In the video posted on X, formerly Twitter, the man can be heard claiming that HIAS, a global Jewish nonprofit that works to protect refugees, is responsible for funding terrorists coming to America.

The claims are untrue and tap into wider false conspiracy theories regarding Jewish links to terrorism schemes.

Newsweek has contacted HIAS and Michael Yon for comment via email.

Yon reposted the video with the caption: "And now imagine actually shutting the border. Imagine that. I've supported Israel for years...until the jab-pushing and other genocidal spectacles."

In a separate video of the same event posted by Ryan Matta, he also claims that Hamas and Hezbollah "are coming across" the U.S. border. "Venezuela is filled with Hezbollah," he said. "Our borders are wide open, it's our government that's doing it." Yon reposted the video with the caption "Allahu Akbar!"

"Allahu Akbar," which is known as the Takbir, has significant meaning for Muslims and is often used as a call to prayer. The usually peaceful phrase has been associated with extremists because some militants have used the phrase when conducting terrorist attacks.

The news comes as tensions continue to rise about the U.S.-Mexico border, with an ongoing standoff between the Biden administration and Texas Governor Greg Abbott over which can enforce border policies.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Texas has witnessed an influx of migrants attempting to cross into the U.S. In December, ABC News reported a preliminary figure of 302,000 encounters along the southwest border with Mexico—the highest monthly total ever recorded.

The U.S. Department of Justice has also been embroiled in a legal tussle with Abbott after he ordered the installation of a 1,000 foot floating barrier in the Rio Grande River near Eagle Pass. The Biden administration claimed it was installed without federal authorization. In September, District Judge David A. Ezra ruled that Texas must remove the barrier, which was appealed by Texas only to be affirmed by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

More recently, a Supreme Court ruling on January 22 ordered that federal agents can remove razor wire put up along the border at Abbott's request. In response, Abbott said he was invoking "Texas's constitutional authority to defend and protect itself" against what he described as an "invasion." He was supported by 25 other Republican governors.

Calls for Texas to secede from the U.S. have been made by right-wing figures and Republican politicians. Daniel Miller, president of the Texas Nationalist Movement, told The Texas Tribune that the argument between the federal government and Abbott "validates and confirms the position we've had all along, which is that if Texas ever wants to truly secure its border ... the only way we're going to do it is as an independent and self-governing nation."

Earlier this month, the Texas National Guard seized control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, one of the top locations for illegal crossings. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also offered this week to send Florida National Guard and State Guard troops to Texas.