“This trial has proven to me MORE THAN ANYTHING how deep your commitments go and the extent of your bravery; which can only be matched by the profound pride I have in you as your father.”
Three anti-ICE activists have been convicted by a federal jury for their roles in a riot outside an ICE detention facility in Spokane, Washington that prosecutors say prevented federal officers from carrying out immigration enforcement operations for more than nine hours. One of those convicted is the son of a Democrat running for Congress in Washington's 5th Congressional District seat.
Jac Archer, Justice Forral, and Bajun Mavalwalla II were found guilty on May 28 of conspiring to impede federal law enforcement officers or damage property used in the execution of their duties, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
https://twitter.com/KimKatieUSA/status/2037731060533039570?s=20
Following the verdict, congressional candidate Bajun Mavalwalla Sr. released a statement thanking those involved in the trial and expressing support for his son, defendant Bajun Mavalwalla II. "Today’s verdict marks the conclusion of a serious and important legal process," Mavalwalla Sr. said.
"I want to thank the jury, the attorneys for the defense, and all others who have participated in the proceedings with professionalism and integrity. Thank you especially to supporters that have shown up throughout this trial. Truly, your presence has kept up my spirits as well as those of many others."
He concluded by addressing his son directly. "Lastly, I want to make a statement about my son, Bajun Mavalwalla II. Having served with you as a member of the United States Army in Afghanistan, I was already well-aware of your bravery and your unwavering commitment to the beliefs and the principles for which you stand. This trial has proven to me MORE THAN ANYTHING how deep your commitments go and the extent of your bravery; which can only be matched by the profound pride I have in you as your father.”
The convictions stem from a June 2025 riot outside the Spokane ICE facility, where protesters blocked federal vehicles, obstructed facility exits, and allegedly damaged government property in an effort to stop the transfer of detainees to a detention center and immigration court near Tacoma. Federal prosecutors said officers were unable to carry out the transport operation for more than nine hours as the crowd impeded law enforcement activity.
https://twitter.com/KimKatieUSA/status/1963414264733114805?s=20
The verdict followed an eight-day trial and more than a day of deliberations by a jury drawn from across Eastern Washington. Sentencing dates have not yet been set by US District Judge Rebecca L. Pennell.
The three defendants were among nine individuals charged by a federal grand jury in connection with the blockade. Six of the defendants pleaded guilty before trial, leaving Archer, Forral, and Mavalwalla to have their cases decided by a jury. According to prosecutors, officers testified that they feared for their safety as demonstrators blocked exits and interfered with efforts to move detainees from the Spokane facility. Much of the activity was captured on video and presented as evidence during the trial.
The case drew significant public attention and became a flashpoint in Washington state's ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and activist opposition to ICE operations. First Assistant US Attorney Pete Serrano argued that while Americans have a constitutional right to protest, that right does not extend to obstructing federal law enforcement officers from carrying out their duties.
“The United States Attorney’s Office has been encouraged to see so many members of the community engaged with this case. We look forward to the same level of public interest in all of our criminal cases against defendants charged with domestic violence and rape of children in Indian Country, human trafficking, fentanyl trafficking, violent felons with illegal arsenals, and the exploitation of children as young as infants and toddlers,” Serrano said.
“As our office has said from the beginning, everyone in this free country has the right to make their voices heard, and we encourage the exercise of that right. But no one has the right to cross the line into lawbreaking.”
Serrano also rejected criticism from public officials who weighed in on the prosecution without attending the proceedings. “Just because the jury did not find in a way that some people wanted, does not negate the fact that a crime occurred," Serrano said. "Our office’s sole motivation for the charging and prosecution of these individuals was to hold them accountable to the law as each attorney in this office has sworn an oath to support and defend the United States Constitution.”
The convictions mark one of the most significant federal prosecutions to emerge from anti-ICE demonstrations in Washington state and underscore the Trump administration's renewed focus on prosecuting individuals accused of interfering with federal immigration enforcement operations.
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