I want to be fair. Last January, the Border Patrol happened to interfere with No More Deaths’ operations in the hours after the group published its critical report. It’s easy to interpret that as deliberate and harsh retaliation, but that would be difficult to prove.
I can at least look at all the evidence, though. So: why did Border Patrol agents arrest one of No More Deaths’ volunteers that day?
I looked up the formal complaint filed in the Arizona District Court against Dr. Scott Walker, the volunteer humanitarian aid worker in question. The full one-page complaint can be found online; here’s an excerpt.
Complaint for violation of Title 8 United States Code 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii)
BASIS OF COMPLAINANT’S CHARGE AGAINST THE ACCUSED.
On or about January 17, 2018, at or near Ajo, in the District of Arizona, United States Border Patrol Agents (BPA) were conducting surveillance on a building known as “the Barn.” BPA saw a Green Nissan Xterra pull up to “the Barn.” A local resident named Scott Daniel Warren exited the Xterra and entered “the Barn.” Two subjects that matched a description given of two lost illegal aliens exited “the Barn” with Warren and talking with him. BPA along with Pima County Sherriff’s Deputies (PCSD) performed a “knock and talk” on “the Barn” after the subjects reentered “the Barn.” BPA identified the two subjects [...] and determined that they were in the United States illegally.
The material witnesses [...] stated that they researched online the best ways and methods to cross the border illegally before crossing. The material witnesses received the address to “the Barn” as a place they could get food and water. They coordinated a ride with a subject in a white van, who took them to a Chevron station. Perez used the WiFi at the Chevron station to figure out where to go. After finding their way to “the Barn,” Warren met them outside and gave them food and water for approximately three days. Sacaria said that Warren took care of them in “the Barn” by giving them food, water, beds, and clean clothes.
…I guess I’ll just say this. If I’m ever arrested and prosecuted in a court of law, I hope it’s for a so-called crime like “chanting and singing songs” or, better yet, “giving them food, water, beds, and clean clothes.”
Protesting brutality in the law and law enforcement practice is not just our right, but our duty. And in the words of the campaign that No More Deaths helped organize to protest Dr. Warren’s arrest, humanitarian aid is never a crime.