In a shocking and disturbing turn of events, US Border Patrol agents raided a humanitarian aid station in Arizona's desert late last month, taking three people into custody without obtaining a warrant. The site, run by the faith-based organization No More Deaths, has been providing medical care to migrants crossing the US-Mexico border for over two decades.
According to video footage taken by No More Deaths, agents arrived at the site around 4:30 pm and claimed they were in "hot pursuit" of suspects. However, eyewitnesses say that there was no reason for the agents to make an arrest en route, as the migrants were inside a building on private property. The agents' justification for not obtaining a warrant was unclear.
The raid marked the third time this year that Border Patrol agents have targeted the site, and the first time they have entered a structure without a warrant. No More Deaths volunteers reported being informed by agents that they had tracked a group of suspected migrants to the location and requested access to make arrests, but were refused entry without a signed warrant.
The raid has raised concerns about growing "impunity" among US immigration enforcement agencies under the Trump administration. Monica Ruiz House, a No More Deaths volunteer, told The Intercept that the warrantless raid was part of a broader pattern of lawlessness and disregard for human rights.
"This is not an isolated incident," said Ruiz House. "There's this frightening pattern of impunity that's happening across the country... whether it's Border Patrol, whether it's ICE agents."
No More Deaths has been working to find the three people taken into custody in the weeks since, but their whereabouts remain unknown. The group's director, Scott Warren, was arrested last year by Border Patrol agents in a similar raid, and later released due to lack of evidence.
The raids have also sparked fears about the treatment of migrants in US custody, with many left stranded without access to medical care or other basic necessities. As one observer noted, "They've disappeared into the ICE custody black hole."
According to video footage taken by No More Deaths, agents arrived at the site around 4:30 pm and claimed they were in "hot pursuit" of suspects. However, eyewitnesses say that there was no reason for the agents to make an arrest en route, as the migrants were inside a building on private property. The agents' justification for not obtaining a warrant was unclear.
The raid marked the third time this year that Border Patrol agents have targeted the site, and the first time they have entered a structure without a warrant. No More Deaths volunteers reported being informed by agents that they had tracked a group of suspected migrants to the location and requested access to make arrests, but were refused entry without a signed warrant.
The raid has raised concerns about growing "impunity" among US immigration enforcement agencies under the Trump administration. Monica Ruiz House, a No More Deaths volunteer, told The Intercept that the warrantless raid was part of a broader pattern of lawlessness and disregard for human rights.
"This is not an isolated incident," said Ruiz House. "There's this frightening pattern of impunity that's happening across the country... whether it's Border Patrol, whether it's ICE agents."
No More Deaths has been working to find the three people taken into custody in the weeks since, but their whereabouts remain unknown. The group's director, Scott Warren, was arrested last year by Border Patrol agents in a similar raid, and later released due to lack of evidence.
The raids have also sparked fears about the treatment of migrants in US custody, with many left stranded without access to medical care or other basic necessities. As one observer noted, "They've disappeared into the ICE custody black hole."
this is super scary!! 
how can authorities just barge into a charity site like that? 
what about human rights laws?! 
it's all so confusing 
and now these 3 ppl r missing 
anyone know what happened to them tho? 
this is def not an isolated incident 
we need more accountability 
Another example of the US Border Patrol's blatant disregard for human rights 
. Raiding a humanitarian aid station is just plain cruel 
. Who needs warrants when you're chasing migrants with broken dreams? The fact that this has happened THREE TIMES THIS YEAR already says it all 
, no more deaths has been doing some amazing work helping those migrants for years and now they're being harassed by the authorities. and whats with the lack of warrants? isnt that kinda basic law enforcement 101? 
.
its like they think they can just do whatever they want and get away with it 
this is exactly what happened under the trump admin and now its happening again 
we need to do something about this ASAP 
its so messed up. and now 3 ppl are missin & no one knows where they r 
The fact that they're targeting people who are just trying to get medical help or food is just heartbreaking. And now these 3 people are gone and no one knows where they are? 
It's like, what even is the point of all this? Can't we just treat humans with some basic respect? 
. I mean, I get that there are serious issues with immigration, but come on, do you have to be so aggressive all the time? 
i mean, these ppl have been providing medical care to migrants for over 20 yrs and now they're getting targeted like this? it's like trump's administration is trying to make america inhospitable to refugees & asylum seekers... the fact that they can just barge in w/o a warrant is terrifying 
we need to know what's going on behind the scenes and how these agencies are operating without accountability 