Tucson Region

Episcopal bishop joins migrant-aid prosecution protest

The bishop for Arizona Episcopalians now is among 27 religious leaders to join a campaign protesting the federal prosecution of two migrant aid workers. Bishop Kirk Smith of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona on Wednesday added his name to a growing list of 5,600 people asking that charges against Shanti A. Sellz and Daniel M. Strauss be dropped. They are scheduled to go to trial Dec. 20 in Tucson on charges they violated U.S. immigration law by transporting three illegal entrants. Sellz and Strauss, both 23, were indicted by a federal grand jury after they turned down a plea offer. They say they were taking the men to a Tucson church for medical care. But the U.S. Border Patrol has said the men weren't ill and refused medical aid once in custody. The local faith-based No More Deaths Movement wants to get at least 10,000 people to send postcards to U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton, asking that charges against the two be dropped. The campaign, called "Humanitarian Aid is Never a Crime," now includes door-to-door campaigning, yard signs and bumper stickers. Rallies are being held every Wednesday at Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 W. 23rd St., until the trial. Among those who attended Wednesday's rally were Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon of Temple Emanu-El, 225 N. Country Club Road; the Rev. David Wilkinson, of St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church, 4626 E. River Road; the Rev. Delle McCormick, executive director of BorderLinks; and Rick Ufford-Chase, moderator for the national Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).