AZ sheriff provokes protesters to block road with trucks to stop ‘invasion’ of 40 child refugees

A group of anti-immigration protesters have gathered in Oracle, Arizona to stop 40 child refugees who have been invited to stay at a ranch for boys.

In what mirrors demonstrations in Murrieta, California that forced busses of women and children to turn back earlier this month, protesters in Oracle lined the road with trucks on Tuesday after Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu warned them that undocumented children were being bussed to the Sycamore Canyon Academy.

KGUN's Keaton Thomas confirmed to CNN that trucks were blocking the road, and that the Arizona State Militia had been deployed to the scene.

"I'm protesting the invasion of the United States by people from foreign countries," one protester told KGUN. "This is about the sovereignty of our nation."

The protester added that he did not think that the demonstrations would frighten the refugee children because "they've been all the way through Mexico."

The busses were expected to arrive later on Tuesday.

Watch the video below from CNN, broadcast July 15, 2014.