Humanitarian workers facing prosecution for kind deed

[Grimmlok]

TUCSON, Ariz.—The T-shirts worn by their supporters say it all, advertising one rallying cry that is galvanizing two sides in the great U.S. immigration divide.

"Humanitarian aid is never a crime," they say. But the U.S. court system is going to decide that perhaps within weeks.

Daniel Strauss, 24, of Wyoming, and Shanti Sellz, 23, of Tucson may have saved the life of a young Mexican, Emil Hidalgo-Solis, when he collapsed in a roadside ditch, unable to go any farther in his quest last summer to reach the U.S. illegally during the hottest July in the area in recent memory.

His feet were blistered and he was vomiting. He had been drinking contaminated water from a cattle slough.

Then he was spotted by Sellz and Strauss, who were on a humanitarian circuit patrolled regularly by volunteers from a group called No More Deaths, a network of faith-based workers alarmed at the increasing migrant death toll just south of here.

They carted Hidalgo-Solis and two other would-be illegal immigrants into their air-conditioned SUV and headed for help when they noticed one of the ubiquitous U.S. Border Patrol vehicles following them. After about 20 kilometres, the agents pulled them over, asked about their passengers, then arrested them.

Then they arrested Strauss and Sellz.

They are set for trial this month on charges of knowingly and intentionally conspiring to transport an illegal alien, and with transporting an illegal alien, knowingly and in reckless disregard of the fact that he had come to, entered and remained in the U.S. in violation of law.

They could face up to 15 years in prison.

The issue?

Did they pass other border patrol agents without stopping to turn over their passengers?

Johnny Bernal of the Department of Homeland Security in the Tucson region, said the policy is clear — anyone who comes upon illegal immigrants is allowed to help them, but must call authorities who are better equipped to provide emergency care.

That litre of water and food offered to immigrants, with a helpful nudge in the right direction, might not save them, he said. It might kill them.

"These people might have three or four more days to walk and they can't make it,'' he said.

Geoff Boyce of No More Deaths says his group and the U.S. Border Patrol had a working agreement in place until that day.

"The issue here is saving lives,'' he said. "I'm sure the border patrol shares that concern. Our only interest is saving lives, not breaking the law.''

He said the charges stem from a nationwide shift to a harder line in dealing with illegals.

In fact, if the U.S. House of Representatives had its way, the work of No More Deaths, would clearly be illegal.

Of course, both sides acknowledge the border patrol agents would provide help, then send illegals back to Mexico.

"That is the political issue at play,'' Bernal said.

[Barbara]

I feel so blessed for not needing to immigrate to a "better" place!!!