Many chain themselves to bus to protest Operation Streamline

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - A second big immigration protest this week shut down an Interstate 10 frontage road this morning and resulted in 18 arrests.

Traffic was blocked on the east side of the Interstate 10 frontage road between 22^nd Street and Granada.

Sgt. Chris Widmer with TPD said protesters orchestrated vehicles to block two Border Patrol prisoner transport buses on their way to the federal courthouse around 8 a.m.

Inside the buses were about 70 illegal immigrants who were about to face a judge for entering the United States illegally. They were scheduled to appear today in the District Court as part of the Border Patrol's "Operation Streamline."

Twelve protesters surrounded the buses and physically locked themselves to the vehicle wheels using Dragon Sleeves.

Police said about 50 more protesters arrived on scene with signs and posted banners on the buses while in and along the roadway.

A smaller group of at least seven protesters "Dragon Sleeved" themselves across the U.S. District Court entrance on Congress Street.

TPD, along with federal and state agencies, removed the Dragon Sleeves from the protesters after three hours, according to a news release.

The United States District Court canceled and rescheduled all court appearances. Police said the group interfered with the prisoners' due process rights in United States District Court.

Eighteen protesters were booked into the Pima County Jail.

No significant injuries were reported, police said.

The following are those who were arrested at Friday's protest, according to TPD officials:

Carlos Garcia, 30
Paula Ann Miller, 43
James D. Wells, 30
John Heid, 58
Maryanne Esther Vallet, 30
Gabriel Matthew Schivone, 29
Genevieve Ellis Beck-Roe, 21
Alexandra Nicole Sabo, 26
Angelica Moreno Loreto, 31
Devora Gonzalez, 24
Charles Edward Kaufman, 61
Michelle Marie Jahnke, 23
Stephen Russell Johnston, 68
Paula Lee McPheeters, 60
Julia Mihich Harden, 20
Sarah Anne Launius, 34
Ethan John Beasley, 42
Sandra Castro Solis, 25

All 18 were in night court Friday. They were charged with hindering prosectution, a felony charge, and a judge released them with no bail. All are scheduled for court on Oct. 31.

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