Jury mulling migrants’ suit against Arizona rancher
Jurors have recessed after a day’s deliberations in Tucson federal court in a lawsuit illegal immigrants brought against a southern Arizona rancher who detained them at gunpoint in 2004.
Deliberations began Friday and resume Tuesday - after Monday’s federal holiday.
Six migrants claim that 66-year-old rancher Roger Barnett should pay compensation for violating their civil rights near Douglas. They allege he threatened to shoot anyone who tried to escape.
Barnett’s lawyer argued that his land was inundated with illegal immigrants who left trash on his property, damaged his water supply and harmed his cattle. He began looking for and detaining migrants for the Border Patrol to protect his property.
Barnett is also accused of assault, battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress