An Arizona activist charged with harbouring two undocumented migrants faces trial on Wednesday in a case likely to set a precedent over what aid US citizens can give to undocumented migrants.Â
United States Border Patrol agents arrested Scott Warren in a January 2018 raid near Ajo, Arizona after they found two migrants hiding in the shower of a ramshackle building used by humanitarian groups.
The 36-year old faces two felony counts of harbouring the undocumented migrants and one felony count of conspiracy to transport the two men. The university geography instructor could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
Warren was indicted after former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions instructed prosecutors to prioritise cases involving the harbouring of migrants. The crackdown was part of President Donald Trump's "zero-tolerance" policies at the border.
Warren is a volunteer for No More Deaths, a faith-based group providing water, food and medical aid to migrants in the harsh deserts of southern Arizona.
More than 3,000 undocumented migrants have died since 2001 trying to cross the area where temperatures can exceed 115 Fahrenheit (46 Celsius), according to Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner data.
Warren was arrested the same day No More Deaths published a video showing US Border Patrol agents destroying water supplies the group left for migrants.Â
Warren's lawyers argue the arrest was in retaliation for the video. They say he was lawfully exercising his religious beliefs and rights to help the migrants after they spent two days crossing the desert.
His parents have collected over 128,000 signatures calling on the US Attorney's Office in Tucson to drop all charges.
"This is an overreach of federal authority," said Juanita Molina, executive director of Tucson-based human rights group Border Action Network.
"Humanitarian aid is vital to the survival of migrants crossing the desert," she added.Â
US Border Patrol referred questions to the US Attorney's Office. It did not respond to a request for comment.
Prosecutors are expected to argue Warren went beyond humanitarian aid.
Jury selection for the trial in US District Court, Tucson, begins on Wednesday morning, and opening statement are expected later in the day.
fap_spawn on June 2nd, 2019 at 18:25 UTC »
How is such a misleading title allowed? So many people not reading and thinking this is some charity working being charged for handing out food and water
NOT_PC_Principal on June 2nd, 2019 at 16:18 UTC »
For those who didn't read the article, the activist is going on trial for hiding & transporting 2 individuals who crossed the US border illegally. The activist is not going on trial for giving migrants food and water.
I see a lot of comments that the activist should be punished because his actions is encouraging illegal immigration.
That is not the issue.
The issue is that anyone who enters the USA legally or illegally, must be processed by CBP agents.
Asylum Seekers and Refugees who illegally cross into the USA have always made an effort to find the nearest US Border Patrol agent so they can surrender themselves. That way they can officially request for asylum and take a "credible fear" interview. Passing the interview allows the asylum seeker to live in the USA until the date of his/her scheduled trial in an immigration court to determine if the asylum request is based on legitimate reasons.
Individuals who try to avoid US CBP agents after illegally entering the USA are often known criminals who are already registered in a criminal database, thus if they get processed by CBP, that individual would immediately be deported.
whatevra on June 2nd, 2019 at 14:30 UTC »
Well this thread is a dumpster fire.