Judge Rules Humanitarian Aid is Not a Crime

No Mas Muertes-No More Deaths

Yesterday in Tucson, Judge Raner Collins dismissed indictments against Shanti Sellz and Daniel Strauss, two young volunteers for No Mas Muertes, a humanitarian group that delivers water, food and medical aid to illegal entrants walking in the desert.

The two were arrested in July 2005 as they were taking three severely dehydrated and ill entrants for medical help in their car.  Although Sellz and Strauss were following protocol set up by No Mas Muertes, and checked by a lawyer, the pair was indicted by a grand jury for conspiracy to transport and transportation of illegal aliens.

Regardless of how you feel about undocumented workers entering our country, dying of dehydration in the desert is a terrible consequence for someone who is attempting to escape poverty and work in the U.S.  Many of these people entering the United States come from sub-tropical environments, deep in Mexico and have no understanding of the desert and its harsh conditions.  Providing people with water or medical help should not be a criminal act and Judge Collins is to be commended for understanding that humanitarian aid is not a crime.
You can read the full story in today's edition of The Arizona Daily Star.

•  another

  activist judge who hates america. why is she enabling the hoard of invaders?
  </snark>

  by blacklib on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 06:05:02 AM PDT

  •  Judge Collins

    is a man.  Ni modo.  He's a federal judge appointed by Clinton.

    by Desert Rose on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 06:12:53 AM PDT

    •  never let facts get in the way

      of snark. corrected.

      by blacklib on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 09:16:10 AM PDT

•  Good news for a change.

  Thankfully, humanitarian ideals are not dead in all corners of our government.

  by inclusiveheart on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 06:36:25 AM PDT

•  So let me get this straight

  The feds actually want you to call 911, and thus incur the extra cost of sending out an ambulance and law enforcement instead of allowing people to transport dehydrated people to the hospital in your own car.

  The brilliance of the US justice system at work again.

  by incertus on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 06:49:19 AM PDT

  •  The desert area

    where entrants cross is remote and far from services.  The volunteers from No Mas Muertes leave water in these remote areas.  When entrants become ill, they are left behind, and volunteers find them sometimes.  Other times, only their remains are found.  

    One mother, left behind, found wandering in the desert alone, was forced to leave her dead three year old behind.
    http://www.kvoa.com/...

    As I said, no matter how you feel about the border issue, offering humanitarian aid should never be a crime.

    by Desert Rose on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 07:01:39 AM PDT

•  That is a "culture of life"

  that I can fully support.

  by beaukitty on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 07:17:04 AM PDT

  •  That is a great comment. n/t

    by Desert Rose on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 07:22:18 AM PDT

  •  Corporal works of mercy

    Perhaps, unlike the administration, the volunteers have actually read the Bible:

    Mt 25:34 “Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ’Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?’ And the king will answer them, ’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.’”

    by marykk on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 07:41:21 AM PDT

•  Planning to relocate to Tucson some day

  Voy a presentarme voluntario por No Mas Muertes

  by anotherCt Dem on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 07:37:37 AM PDT

  •  Bueno y bienvenido n/t

    by Desert Rose on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 07:58:42 AM PDT

    •  Muchas gracias, mi amiga

      by anotherCt Dem on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 08:06:54 AM PDT