An Arizona rancher, aged 75, is set to stand trial for second-degree murder in the shooting death of a migrant on his property near the Mexico border. The incident occurred on the ranch located outside Nogales, Arizona, where the rancher encountered a group of unarmed migrants, resulting in the fatal shooting of a 48-year-old man from Nogales, Mexico.
The rancher, George Alan Kelly, faces charges for recklessly firing an AK-47 rifle towards the migrants, with the victim being among them. The shooting took place on January 30, 2023, and has sparked debates on border security, especially in the lead-up to the upcoming presidential election.
Kelly had declined a plea deal that would have reduced the charge to negligent homicide, maintaining that he acted out of fear for his safety, that of his wife, and his property. The trial, taking place in Santa Cruz County Superior Court, is expected to last up to a month.
Notably, the victim had a history of illegal entry into the U.S., having been convicted and deported multiple times, as per court records. The Mexican consulate in Nogales has been in contact with the victim's family, closely monitoring the case.
This incident comes in the wake of another shooting involving twin brothers in West Texas, where one migrant was killed and another wounded. The brothers, charged with manslaughter, had fired at a group of migrants near the border, reigniting discussions on border security.
Border security remains a prominent issue in the current political landscape, with both Republican and Democratic leaders making visits to the Texas-Mexico border. The trial of George Alan Kelly serves as a focal point in the ongoing national debate surrounding immigration and border control.
