# When humanitarian behavior is criminalized... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 12, 2019, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420 "2019-06-12T11:31:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/1 "2019-06-12T11:31:00Z")
> **[Jury deadlocks in case of Arizona border activist charged after helping migrants](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jury-deadlocks-case-arizona-border-activist-charged-after-helping-migrants-n1016646)** > > It was not immediately clear if federal prosecutors will seek a new trial. Humanitarian groups said the case could have wide implications on their work. > [@](#): > > Defense attorneys argued that Scott Daniel Warren, a 36-year-old college geography instructor, was simply being kind by providing two migrants with water, food and lodging when he was arrested in early 2018. He faced up to 20 years in prison. > > But prosecutors maintained the men were not in distress and Warren conspired to transport and harbor them at a property used for providing aid to migrants in an Arizona town near the U.S.-Mexico border. Feds may try to prosecute him again. It gets better. > [@](#): > > In West Texas, a county attorney was detained earlier this year after stopping her car on a dark highway to pick up three young migrants who flagged her down. Teresa Todd was held briefly, and federal agents searched her cellphone. People who think that comparisons of this administration and its adherents to Nazi Germany are hyperbole are dangerously naive. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/2 "2019-06-12T12:03:30Z")
Europe is having the same kinda issues. This is an activist but she is looking at a lot of time for pulling people out of the water. > **['Sea Rescues Have Been Criminalized' as German Boat Captain Faces 20 Years in...](https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/11/sea-rescues-have-been-criminalized-german-boat-captain-faces-20-years-prison-saving)** > > "We have only followed international law, especially the law of the sea, where the highest priority is to save people from distress." ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/3 "2019-06-12T13:15:25Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > People who think that comparisons of this administration and its adherents to Nazi Germany are hyperbole are dangerously naive. Were the laws that these people are accused of breaking passed during this administration? ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/4 "2019-06-12T14:09:38Z")
…only criminals will be humanitarians? ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/5 "2019-06-12T14:16:36Z")
There should be opportunity for a grand compromise. Migrants are granted admittance once they have secured private funding and they and their descendants are prevented from securing transfer payments. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/6 "2019-06-12T14:20:15Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > Europe is having the same kinda issues. > > This is an activist but she is looking at a lot of time for pulling people out of the water. > ['Sea Rescues Have Been Criminalized' as German Boat Captain Faces 20 Years in Prison For Saving Refugees](https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/11/sea-rescues-have-been-criminalized-german-boat-captain-faces-20-years-prison-saving) I listen to the NY Time’s “The Daily” podcast and this week they are going to different EU countries to talk about the surge of the far-right in politics. Today’s episode is in Italy and at the end, they talk about how a girl gave a thumbs up to the news that a migrant boat sank and over a hundred died. We are at a sad state of affairs when people are happy to hear of large groups of humans dying. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/7 "2019-06-12T15:06:51Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > and they and their descendants are prevented from securing transfer payments. What does this mean? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/8 "2019-06-12T15:13:41Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > What does this mean? And what does it have to do with the case at hand? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/9 "2019-06-12T15:16:20Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > What does this mean? This means “punish immigrant’s children for having the moral failing of being born to an immigrant.” ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/10 "2019-06-12T16:15:00Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Were the laws that these people are accused of breaking passed during this administration? Don’t know. Let’s say they were enacted previously. Were they prosecuted as zealously by previous administrations? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/11 "2019-06-12T16:28:31Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Don’t know. Let’s say they were enacted previously. Were they prosecuted as zealously by previous administrations? Not sure. I would hope that a person who thinks they ARE being prosecuted by this administration more zealously than previous administrations would have that information on hand. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/12 "2019-06-12T17:32:38Z")
I guess the OP did not consider that Scott Daniel Warren may be lying and was trying to harbor them. I ain’t saying either way, but this: > [@](#): > > The undocumented men said they researched the best methods for crossing the border and had received the address of “the Barn” as a place they could receive food and water, according to the complaint. > > “After finding their way to ‘the Barn,’ Warren met them outside and gave them food and water for approximately three days,” according to the complaint. seems to counter the defense argument somewhat. I dunno. Maybe the Feds are lying. Wouldn’t be the first time. But it does seem a little odd that the man just happened to show up at a place where illegals went for assistance and just happened to have 3 days worth of food and water for 2 men with him. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/13 "2019-06-12T18:40:07Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > …only criminals will be humanitarians? Damn you ! That was MY line ! ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/14 "2019-06-12T19:08:21Z")
Every time someone talks about voting Christian values, I point to stuff like this. Jesus was very clear about how to treat those in need, especially travellers. Laws that forbid moral behavior should never be enforced. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/15 "2019-06-12T19:20:50Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > There should be opportunity for a grand compromise. Migrants are granted admittance once they have secured private funding and they and their descendants are prevented from securing transfer payments. Why are their descendants to be second-class citizens based on what their forebears did or didn’t do? Do you advocate any other categories of people being punished for the wrong doings of a separate group of people? Do you not see that this is morally wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/16 "2019-06-12T19:23:21Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > I dunno. Maybe the Feds are lying. Wouldn’t be the first time. But it does seem a little odd that the man just happened to show up at a place where illegals went for assistance and just happened to have 3 days worth of food and water for 2 men with him. Wow. I mean, I have effectively unlimited water from my tap at home, not to mention a variety of other beverages, and usually have enough food on hand to feed surprise guests for a day or two. Do I deserve to be prosecuted, too? Are we going to limit how much food people keep in their homes now? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/17 "2019-06-12T19:26:22Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Every time someone talks about voting Christian values, I point to stuff like this. Jesus was very clear about how to treat those in need, especially travellers. > > Laws that forbid moral behavior should never be enforced. We are not really talking about the moral behavior. Lets be clear on that. If the man had given the immigrants food and water…AND called ICE…then he would be on the right side of the law. The behavior that is forbidden is being part of a network that helps immigrants skirt immigration law. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/18 "2019-06-12T19:29:25Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Wow. > > I mean, I have effectively unlimited water from my tap at home, not to mention a variety of other beverages, and usually have enough food on hand to feed surprise guests for a day or two. Do I deserve to be prosecuted, too? Are we going to limit how much food people keep in their homes now? Strawman. If I read the article correctly, they didn’t come to his home. He took the supplies to them. And where he took the supplies was a known hub where illegals went for supplies. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/19 "2019-06-12T21:36:27Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Why are their descendants to be second-class citizens based on what their forebears did or didn’t do? Do you advocate any other categories of people being punished for the wrong doings of a separate group of people? > > Do you not see that this is morally wrong? Punishment? Anyone deprived of transfer payments is being punished? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420/20 "2019-06-12T21:39:51Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > I guess the OP did not consider that Scott Daniel Warren may be lying and was trying to harbor them. > > I ain’t saying either way, but this: > seems to counter the defense argument somewhat. > > I dunno. Maybe the Feds are lying. Wouldn’t be the first time. But it does seem a little odd that the man just happened to show up at a place where illegals went for assistance and just happened to have 3 days worth of food and water for 2 men with him. The feds are technically within the boundaries of the law, but it’s a ridiculous application of the law, and it’s not really in the same spirit of simply protecting borders or controlling immigration. Prosecuting people like Warren is in the spirit of authoritarianism and racism. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-humanitarian-behavior-is-criminalized/835420.md?page=2)