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Veteran arrested after protest

Jul 15, 2025 · Spokane Washington

Veteran arrested after protest

On June 11, a former president of the Spokane City Council sent out an alert over social media. Two men, in the county legally and seeking asylum, had reported for an appearance in immigration court there. They were then detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly known as ICE, at a Department of Homeland Security office in Spokane. The former council member, Ben Stuckart, urged followers to disrupt that enforcement. Among those responding to the call that day was Bajun Mavalwalla II, a Petaluma native and military veteran who had relocated to Washington. The resulting demonstration became confrontational. Protesters blocked an ICE bus as the agency attempted to transport the two detainees to Tacoma for immigration hearings, deflating the vehicle’s tires. Several people were arrested. Mavalwalla was not one of them. But a month later, on July 15, he got a knock at the door of his Spokane home at 6 a.m. Ten FBI agents were on hand to take him into custody.

Timeline

Jul 15, 2025Military veteran Bajun Mavalwalla II arrested at his Spokane home by FBI agents for protest involvement.
Jun 11, 2025Ben Stuckart alerts public about ICE detention of two asylum seekers; protesters block ICE bus and deflate tires; several arrested.

Sources

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