Border Patrol Brutalizes No Borders Camp Demonstration: Update at 6:10pm

11 Nov 2007 - 11pm: Breaking News Jail support team went to border partrol station: 1) FBI is intrerviewing 3 people. 2) FBI refuses to give the names, thus preventing friends/family from getting them their personal attorneys despite repeated requests from legal team. 3) The individuals were examined by an EMT and BP says they have refused further treatment though video footage and eyewitness accounts confirm beatings by approximately 10 BP agents at one time. 4) They will be moved to central jail after the interview and will not be arraigned until Tuesday due to Federal Holiday on Monday.

12 Nov 2007 - 8:17am: Phone contact was made with the three brutalized No Borders Camp prisoners early this morning from jail in El Cento. Much information came to light, including the fact that they were refused medical treatment after repeated requests...this being contrary to what was told to the Legal Support Team by Border Patrol agents at Border Patrol station at around 11pm, who said "They (the prisoners) have refused further medical treatment."
It seems likely that at least two of the badly beaten protestors will be released on their own recognizance today. However, one of the prisoners may have immigration status hurdles to overcome. The charges might likely be assault against a federal agent.

12 Nov 2007 - 4:47 pm: The threes arrestees are being held in the Imperial County Jail in El Centro, California. According to the records office, they have tentative charges of impeding a federal officer. Their arraignment is expected tomorrow afternoon. Several phone calls and a jail visit were made with two of the arrestees, Steve Murphy and Erik Wackernagel. Juan Ruiz is a US permanent resident and faces possible deportation related to these charges. Two arrestees have requested and been refused medical attention. Call the warden at Imperial County Jail at 760.339.6367 to pressure them to provide Steve and Erik with vegan/vegetarian food, immediate medical attention for the arrestees, and to allow visitors for all three arrestees.

12 Nov 2007 - 8:42 pm: If you would like to donate to the legal fund, use this donate link and make sure to specify that you want your donation to go toward legal costs. We expect that Steve, Erik and Juan will be appointed public defenders and will appear before a federal magistrate judge in the afternoon. We will post an update as soon as we have specific information regarding charges and conditions of release.

LEGAL UPDATE 13 Nov 2007 - 5:20 pm: Erik Wackernagel and Steve Murphy have been released! Juan Ruiz, the musician who is seen in the videos dancing before he is violently thrown to the ground and beaten by several Border Patrol agents, was arraigned today and charged with felony assault of a federal officer. The judge has not decided on the terms of his release yet and Juan will appear before the judge again tomorrow.

ACTUALIZACION LEGAL 13 Nov 2007 - 5:20 pm: Erik Wackernagel y Steve Murphy han sido soltados! Juan Ruiz, el musico que se ve en los videos bailando hasta que esta asaltado y golpeado por un grupo de agentes de la Migra, tenia su juicio de comparacencia hoy y fue cargado con asalto de delito grave a un oficio federal. El juez todavia no ha decidido los terminos de su liberacion y Juan aparecera ante el juez manana.

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LEGAL UPDATE: 14 Nov 2007 - 11:00am: Due to a court mix-up, Juan Ruiz's appearance before Judge Lewis has been rescheduled to 1:30 pm on Thursday, November 15. Erik and Steve were able to rest in Calexico last night and begin healing from their injuries.

ACTUALIZACIÓN LEGAL: 14 Nov 2007 - 11:00am: Debido a una equivocacion en la corte, la comparecencia de Juan Ruiz ante Juez Lewis ha sido renegociada para la Jueves, el 15 de Noviembre a las 1:30 pm. Erik y Steve descansaron y empezaron a sanar de sus heridas en Calexico anoche.

LEGAL UPDATE: 15 Nov 2007 - 2:30pm: The arraignment of Juan Ruiz was concluded this afternoon before Magistrate Lewis in El Centro. Bail has been set as a $10,000 assurity with a signature of a doctor friend of Juan's in Wisconsin, as requested by his public defender, Diane Raegan. Referring to video footage of the incident, she said, "It doens't look like an intentional assault on anybody - except Mr. Ruiz." The prosecutor, John Weis, attempted to enter some last-minute evidence to keep the bail higher and require more signatures which the judge took into consideration. The judge also addressed the No Borders Camp folks present in the courtroom, saying that they should not allow a person this vulnerable (Juan is a permanent legal resident) to have contact with authority - especially authority directly related to immigration. The judge told Juan that he didn't want to see him be deported. At the end, the judge turned to Juan and said, "Good luck to you."An indictment will be handed down in two weeks in El Centro to determine whether or not the U.S. Government will actually prosecute Juan. We expect Juan to be released Monday or Tuesday. To donate to his legal defense fund, mail checks made payable to 'GDC Legal Defense Fund' to PO Box 2442, Madison, WI 53701, with memo 'Juan Ruiz'.
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LEGAL 15 Nov 2007 2:30 pm El arreglo en el caso de Juan Ruiz fue concluido esta tarde ante el magistrado Lewis en el pueblo de El Centro. La multa es de usd$10.000 asegurada con la firma de un amigo de Juan, medico de Wisconsin, esto a peticion de su defensora publica, Diane Raegan. Refiriéndose al incidente grabado en el vídeo, ella dijo, "No parece como un asalto intencional a nadie, excepto para el Sr.Ruiz" El acusador, John Weis, intento entregar algunas evidencias de ultimo minuto para mantener la multa aun mas alta y requerir de mas firmas lo cual hizo que el juez lo considerara. El Juez también menciono, a los otrxs campistas sin fronteras que estaban presentes en la corte, que no deberían permitir a una persona tan vulnerable (Juan es un residente permanente) tener contacto con la autoridad, especialmente autoridad directamente relacionada a migración. El juez se dirigió a Juan diciéndole que no quería verlo deportado. Al final, el Juez le dijo "Buena suerte". El documento acusatorio se dara en dos semanas en El Centro para determinar si el gobierno de los EEUU seguira con la acusación para Juan. Pensamos que Juan va a salir lunes o martes. Para donar a su cuenta de defenso legal, mande cuentas a 'GDC Legal Defense Fund' a PO Box 2442, Madison, WI 53701' con el nombre 'Juan Ruiz'.
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