How a dangerous North Texas militiaman became a symbol for a growing extremist movement Kevin Massey first gained notoriety by detaining immigrants on the Texas-Mexico border. When he got out of prison, he absconded and became a fugitive, threatening a war with the government. That message resonated with other extremists, who continue to see him as a martyr in the fight against tyranny. Kevin Massey came to the attention of federal authorities in 2014 when he and other militia members patrolled the Texas-Mexico border and filmed themselves detaining migrants. He was a fugitive who had threatened to go to war with the government and had illegally got his hands on a powerful firearm after being released from prison.