by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
I have written about the humanitarian group in southern Arizona called "No More Deaths" in this space and on several occasions for over a period of more than ten years. The group is known primarily for giving life-saving aid and comfort to immigrants from Mexico who are attempting to walk across the Sonoran Desert from Mexico to the United States. It's members leave full water jugs and food along the paths frequented by the immigrant travelers.
The government has tried a variety of measures to stop this flow of humanity from south of the border. The first piece that I penned regarding the situation was in July of 2008 when the U.S. Border Patrol had arrested a young high school Spanish teacher out of Tucson for "littering." What Dainel Millis had actually been doing was leaving full jugs of water in the desert to save the lives of immigrants - and, to further compound the government's weak case - Millis had actually been picking up trash as he distributed the life-saving water.
Government enforcement of its rules and regulations against humanitarian work at the border waxed and waned for several years, but with the advent of the Trump administration, pressure was once again placed on U.S. agents at the border to crack down on the do-gooders who were offering aid to the migrants who were entering the country on foot.
In January of 2018 another educator, geography instructor Dr. Scott Daniel Warren of Arizona State University, was arrested at his home near Ajo, Arizona, along with two immigrants from Mexico. Dr. Warren was charged with two federal counts of "harboring" and one of "conspiracy" for giving "aid and comfort" to immigrants. In June of this year a hung jury failed to reach a verdict and charges were dismissed, but the government refiled and a new trial was held this month.
During the first trial Dr. Warren faced a possible twenty years in prison for his supposed actions, but the government dropped the conspiracy charge for the second trial, and ten years in prison was the maximum to which Dr. Warren could have been sentenced . This week the case went to the jury, and after just two-and-a-half hours of deliberation, the college professor was found not guilty of the major charges against him. (He may still face some minor punishment for operating a motor vehicle in a restricted zone.)
Congratulations to Dr. Scott Warren and to all of the good people who worked so long and hard to bring this case to a just conclusion. Who could have ever imagined a United States of America where people would be hauled into court and charged with crimes for giving life-saving aid to people in need? The work of "No More Deaths" and other humanitarian organizations whose members risk their own lives and freedom so that others may survive is truly an affirmation of shared humanity and a blessing for us all - and for that we should be thankful.
May the day soon come when there are no more deaths along our southern border, and the United States is once again a beacon of freedom to a troubled world.
Citizen Journalist
I have written about the humanitarian group in southern Arizona called "No More Deaths" in this space and on several occasions for over a period of more than ten years. The group is known primarily for giving life-saving aid and comfort to immigrants from Mexico who are attempting to walk across the Sonoran Desert from Mexico to the United States. It's members leave full water jugs and food along the paths frequented by the immigrant travelers.
The government has tried a variety of measures to stop this flow of humanity from south of the border. The first piece that I penned regarding the situation was in July of 2008 when the U.S. Border Patrol had arrested a young high school Spanish teacher out of Tucson for "littering." What Dainel Millis had actually been doing was leaving full jugs of water in the desert to save the lives of immigrants - and, to further compound the government's weak case - Millis had actually been picking up trash as he distributed the life-saving water.
Government enforcement of its rules and regulations against humanitarian work at the border waxed and waned for several years, but with the advent of the Trump administration, pressure was once again placed on U.S. agents at the border to crack down on the do-gooders who were offering aid to the migrants who were entering the country on foot.
In January of 2018 another educator, geography instructor Dr. Scott Daniel Warren of Arizona State University, was arrested at his home near Ajo, Arizona, along with two immigrants from Mexico. Dr. Warren was charged with two federal counts of "harboring" and one of "conspiracy" for giving "aid and comfort" to immigrants. In June of this year a hung jury failed to reach a verdict and charges were dismissed, but the government refiled and a new trial was held this month.
During the first trial Dr. Warren faced a possible twenty years in prison for his supposed actions, but the government dropped the conspiracy charge for the second trial, and ten years in prison was the maximum to which Dr. Warren could have been sentenced . This week the case went to the jury, and after just two-and-a-half hours of deliberation, the college professor was found not guilty of the major charges against him. (He may still face some minor punishment for operating a motor vehicle in a restricted zone.)
Congratulations to Dr. Scott Warren and to all of the good people who worked so long and hard to bring this case to a just conclusion. Who could have ever imagined a United States of America where people would be hauled into court and charged with crimes for giving life-saving aid to people in need? The work of "No More Deaths" and other humanitarian organizations whose members risk their own lives and freedom so that others may survive is truly an affirmation of shared humanity and a blessing for us all - and for that we should be thankful.
May the day soon come when there are no more deaths along our southern border, and the United States is once again a beacon of freedom to a troubled world.
1 comment:
Ajo? Oh my God, if you thought your Arizona experience was Hellish you can't imagine living in Ajo! This place is literally in the middle of nowhere. It is south of Gila Bend and north of the Sonoran town of Sonoyta. One might ask why. But of course Why, Arizona is actually the next poor settlement down the highway. The Humanitarian has already suffered sufficiently in this lifetime.
Post a Comment