Protesters Found Guilty in ICE Operation Case

On Thursday, a trio of protesters, dubbed the “Spokane 3,” were convicted on federal conspiracy charges related to protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Washington state last year.

Jack Archer, Judge Forall, and Bajun Mavalwala II allegedly attempted to obstruct federal agents who were transporting two detained immigrants from Spokane to Tacoma in June 2025. This incident reportedly drew a significant crowd of protesters who rallied in response to a social media post by Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckert, urging supporters to obstruct the shuttle bus.

Stuckert had been advocating for one of the immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S. He was subsequently arrested and, alongside nine other protesters, faced conspiracy charges.

In a plea deal, he and several others admitted guilt, receiving reduced sentences, as reported by KUOW.

Following the conviction, Washington state Representative Natasha Hill, a Democrat from Spokane, criticized Stuckert for his absence during the trial, expressing disappointment. “You started this and couldn’t even show up to finish it,” she emphasized, calling for him and others to take responsible action for their community.

Stuckert later stated on Facebook that attending the lengthy trial would have breached his parole terms. He expressed regret about the conviction and extended support to those involved, whether they accepted plea deals or chose to go to trial.

Bajun Mavalwala Sr., the father of one of the convicted protesters and a parliamentary candidate, voiced concerns that federal prosecutors were using his son as an example. He accused the government of undermining the rights of Americans to protest against immigration policies.

“The right to protest, to dissent, to assemble—none of that feels secure anymore because of this case,” he said, referencing other instances across the country where juries were untainted and cases were discarded.