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Border & Immigration

Immigrants Rights Activists Head To Court

Immigrants rights activists headed to court in El Centro Tuesday morning. They were ticketed last month by the Sheriff for stringing safety buoys across the All American Canal to help prevent migrant drownings.

The All American Canal runs along the U.S.-Mexico border, from Yuma to just east of El Centro, and carries water to Imperial Valley and San Diego.

Immigrants rights activists say three dozen people have drowned in the canal during the last three years. Most were trying to cross into the US illegally.

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Activist John Carlos Frey is in court this morning for illegally diving into the canal to protest migrant drownings. "People are dying by drowning in a systematic manner. And I just think it is reprehensible that we allow this to continue without doing anything about it," he said.

San Diego and Imperial County water officials agree a new cement lined stretch of the canal must be made safer. But it's not clear when they will install safety features.

Frey estimates stringing buoys across the canal would cost $100,000.