Frontlines TPUSA reporter attacked by far-left agitators in 'autonomous zone' erected near US border wall

A team reporting for TPUSA’s Frontlines was attacked by far-left agitators at the US southern border in Arizona on Monday, with one person’s camera equipment being smashed, and their truck’s tires being slashed. The far-left agitators have been occupying an area near a tree since July, blocking the construction of a double border wall there.

The incident took place in Lochiel, Arizona. Tayler Hansen said the area where authorities have been attempting to build the wall sees “lots of foot traffic coming through,” including issues with cartels. He said that agitators had set up an autonomous zone on private property similar to that seen in Seattle in 2020, known as CHAZ. 

Hansen said that on Monday, “Border Patrol has finally been able to come in. They figured out jurisdiction issues, and they’ve begun enforcing it. They knicked this cottonwood tree down.” 

As contractors took down the 250-year-old tree, agitators were seen screaming and trying to push past Border Patrol. One agitator was heard saying, “die motherf*cker.”

Frontlines manager and reporter Brandon Drey was attacked by agitators as he attempted to film inside the autonomous zone. He said Border Patrol told him he couldn’t film on their side of the caution tape, so he went to the otherside, where the autonomous zone was. He said that “not even a couple minutes into it. I am getting assaulted by these far-left activists.” 

Agitators told him he was on private property and to “get the f*ck out of here.” His Meta glasses were ripped off of his face and destroyed, and his Osmo camera was grabbed. 

In addition to Drey being attacked, Hansen said the agitators had slashed the tires on the team’s truck. ”Activists have openly mocked and boasted about the slashing while threatening Frontlines staff,” Frontlines reported.