Thread: Hundreds protest charges vs. 2 humanitarian workers

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepubli ... gil18.html

Hundreds protest charges vs. 2 humanitarian workers


Josh Kelley
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 18, 2005 12:00 AM

People angered by the indictment of two aid workers accused of illegally transporting undocumented immigrants across the Arizona desert gathered in Phoenix on Saturday to demand that criminal charges in federal court be dropped.

A few hundred people marched through downtown along Jefferson Street to Cesar Chavez Commemorative Plaza, where a 24-hour vigil began at 6:30 p.m. to show support for Shanti Sellz and Daniel Strauss.

"We're all here to declare it's never wrong to help someone in need," Sellz told the crowd before the march.

Border Patrol agents arrested Sellz and Strauss on July 9 as they were transporting three undocumented immigrants in a car to Tucson from a desert aid camp well to the south near Arivaca.

Sellz and Strauss were 23-year-old volunteers working for No More Deaths, a non-profit group that tries to prevent immigrant deaths by providing medical care, food and water to those crossing southern Arizona from Mexico.

Sellz, Strauss and others who worked with them say the three undocumented immigrants were found dangerously dehydrated in the desert and needed immediate medical attention. So Sellz and Strauss were heading to a church in Tucson to get them treatment.

When agents pulled them over, they determined the immigrants did not need emergency medical care and detained everyone in the car, according to the Border Patrol.

The two are charged with conspiracy to transport an illegal alien and transporting an illegal alien.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona offered Sellz and Strauss a plea agreement that would spare them prison time in exchange for admitting they broke the law.

They refused and could face up to 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine each if they are found guilty by a jury.

Sellz said Saturday that she's willing to take that risk because to plead guilty to avoid prison "would be us denouncing our own work."

As she spoke, marchers ahead of her carried sings reading "Humanitarian Aid Is Never A Crime" and "Free The Tucson 2!"

Strauss, who lives in Wyoming, was not in Phoenix on Saturday.

Sellz said that it is crucial that they be found innocent. Otherwise, people will fear being arrested if they render aid to undocumented immigrants, prompting more deaths in the desert, she said.

"People die literally right in front of our faces, and we don't do a thing to help," she said.

Last week, Sellz and Strauss testified in a U.S. District Court hearing in Tucson. Their attorneys argued for the case to be dismissed before it goes to trial. The hearing is scheduled to continue Jan. 5.

"If we don't win our motion to dismiss, then we'll go to trial," Sellz said.

Paul Charlton, U.S. a Attorney for Arizona, has refused to drop the charges against Sellz and Strauss.

On Saturday, Sandy Raynor, spokeswoman for Charlton's office, said there has been no change of plans.

"The grand jury of citizens returned an indictment against them, and a jury will hear the evidence at trial for both sides and make a determination whether they're innocent or guilty," Raynor said.

Among those who came out Saturday to support Strauss and Sellz was Elias Estrada, manager of a Mexican restaurant in Phoenix who said he identifies with the three undocumented immigrants whom Strauss and Sellz aided.

"We're all here to declare it's never wrong to help someone in need," Sellz told the crowd before the march.

What in hell is the matter with these people? coyotes prey on those in need. They aren't helping them. How does it help anyone to lock them in the back of a truck and leave them in the desert or drop them off in a motel room in a strange city with no food and then leave them?