Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visits National Guard troops deployed at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 29. The troops were deployed in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Under Austin's order, all military units are holding "stand downs" to discuss extremism in the ranks. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses the state during a speech Thursday in Lansing. Thirteen members of two militia groups face criminal charges after allegedly plotting to kidnap Whitmer. AP hide caption
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, pictured in March 2019, told NPR the threat posed by individuals subscribing to extremist ideology is a nationwide problem. Paul Sancya/AP hide caption
Tim Foley, the founder of Arizona Border Recon and Maggie Milinovitch, the co-owner of La Gitana Cantina, both live in the small border town of Arivaca, Ariz. The recent militia group presence has put strains on a town that has long prided itself on its live-and-let-live, cooperative spirit. Dominic Valente for NPR hide caption
From left, Gavin Wright, Patrick Eugene Stein and Curtis Allen were convicted Wednesday of plotting to bomb a Kansas apartment complex housing Somali immigrants. Bo Rader/Wichita Eagle/TNS via Getty Images hide caption
Protesters supporting Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy outside the federal courthouse in Las Vegas. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption
Mother Jones reporter Shane Bauer went undercover with the Three Percent United Patriots border militia group. Winni Wintermeyer/Courtesy of Mother Jones hide caption
Protesters in Burns, Ore., march toward the home of Dwight Hammond Jr., a local rancher convicted of arson on federal land. The Jan. 2 protest was peaceful, but ended with a group of militiamen occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Amelia Templeton/OPB hide caption
Zachary Gallegos, 23, stands guard outside the Armed Services Recruiting Center on Thursday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Pentagon has asked such self-appointed "armed citizens" to leave, citing security concerns. Kevin Burbach/AP hide caption
Reny Pineda was born in Michoacan, Mexico, but grew up in Los Angeles. In 2010 he returned to his homeland, and joined a vigilante battle against a ruthless cartel ruling the region. Now the Mexican government has ordered the civilian militias to disband, and Pineda picks lemons in this orchard. Alan Ortega/KQED hide caption