Prosecution of Humanitarians in Arizona

A few months ago, criminal charges were broughtagainst Shanti Sellz and Daniel Strauss. Both in their early 20s, Sellz andStrauss volunteer for the group, No More Deaths, a faith-based coalition thatsets up camps in the desert borderlands of southern Arizona to provide food and water to migrants risking their lives by crossing the border illegally during the deadliest season: June to September.

The goal is to save lives, usually byproviding food and water. They do not transport anyone except in direcircumstances under a doctor’s orders, and the transport is made with utmosttransparency in labeled vehicles. So when Sellz and Strauss encountered threemigrants who were dying in the scorching July desert sun, they transported thethree for emergency medical care. They saved three lives, but Sellz and Strausswere then arrested, charged with transporting illegal aliens, and faced fifteenyear prison terms.

A motion to dismiss their charges was taken under submission by the federal district court in Tucson yesterday. Amnesty International has stated that Sellz and Strauss will be considered prisoners of conscience if they are imprisoned.

Source: www.nomoredeaths.org

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