Homeland Security Investigations agents, dressed in plain clothes, aimed assault-style rifles at two Tucson, Arizona humanitarian-aid volunteers, and detained and handcuffed them along the border-wall road east of Sásabe, Arizona in March, a claim filed against the federal government says.
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A still image from a video shot by the Tucson Samaritans on March 12 show their first encounter with out-of-uniform federal agents, whom the Samaritans initially believed to be armed vigilantes.
Courtesy of Tucson Samaritans
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A still frame from a video shot by Tucson Samaritans on March 12, 2025 shows an armed man, who turned out to be one of three federal agents on the US-Mexico border, aiming a firearm at the humanitarian volunteers. The men’s unmarked SUV blocked the border-wall road where the Tucson Samaritan vehicle was traveling.
Courtesy of Tucson Samaritans
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Long-time Tucson Samaritans volunteer Gail Kocourek, 74, is one of two Tucson Samaritans who say federal agents dressed on plan clothes pointed guns, chased and detained them in an encounter along the US-Mexico border last month, according to a claim filed in federal court.
Emily Bregel, Arizona Daily Star
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Contact reporter Emily Bregel at ebregel@tucson.com . On X, formerly Twitter: @EmilyBregel
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