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Charges Dropped Against No More Deaths Volunteers
by smh
Saturday, Sep. 02, 2006 at 8:19 AM
Late on Friday, September 1, Judge Raner C. Collins dismissed all charges against Shanti Sellz and Daniel Strauss, two volunteers with the Tucson-based humanitarian group No More Deaths. The two were being charged in federal court with transporting undocumented migrants last summer and a trial had previously been set for this coming October.
Sellz and Strauss were arrested July 9th, 2005 while
medically evacuating three sick migrants from the
Arizona desert. The men were found several miles
north of the U.S. / Mexico boundary, severely
dehydrated and unable to hold down water. Volunteer
doctors instructed Sellz and Strauss to bring the men
to a Tucson clinic after it was determined that the
level of care they needed was more advanced than what
could be administered in the field.
At the time of their arrest, the two humanitarian
volunteers were following a protocol that had been
previously agreed to by the U.S. Border Patrol. In
his ruling Judge Collins states that Sellz and Strauss
had made reasonable efforts to ensure that their
actions were not in violation of the law, and that
“further prosecution would violate the Defendant’s
[sic] due process rights.”
The case against Sellz and Strauss drew national
attention, dramatically framing the human cost of U.S.
border policy and the complexities of an increasingly
politicized region. Thousands of people, including
national religious leaders and human rights groups
such as Amnesty International, spoke out in support of
Shanti and Daniel, under the banner “Humanitarian Aid
is Never a Crime”.
Many supporters interpret Judge Collins’ decision as a
victory for human rights. “This is a wonderful result
for humanitarian work in general, and should be seen
as a victory for everyone. The judge made it clear
that the real winners are the migrants, who both the
Border Patrol and No More Deaths are working to
rescue.” said attorney Bill Walker, who represents
Sellz.
Despite the prosecution of Sellz and Strauss, hundreds
of volunteers once again traveled to southern Arizona
this summer to volunteer with No More Deaths. In
addition to patrolling the Arizona desert in search
for people in medical distress, No More Deaths has
launched dual projects in Agua Prieta and Nogales,
Sonora to meet migrants and continue providing
humanitarian assistance after they are returned to
Mexico by the U.S. Border Patrol.
While politicians debate immigration reform, hundreds
of migrants continue to die along the U.S. / Mexico
border. Already this year, more than 171 migrants
have perished in Arizona. No More Deaths joins the
millions of concerned Americans who demand a
comprehensive reform of U.S. border and immigration
policies – one that respects the rights and dignity of
all who would cross the international boundary, and
provides just and accessible avenues for work and
family reunification.
(via press release from No More Deaths)