A candidate in Maine's U.S. Senate race was arrested along the U.S.-Mexico border while attempting to bring supplies to a migrant children detention center in McAllen, Texas, Friday morning.
A spokesperson said Zak Ringelstein, a Democrat running against independent incumbent Sen. Angus King, was arrested around 9:30 a.m. after allegedly trying to bring food, blankets, toys and books to migrant children separated from their parents as a result of the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" immigration policy.
A Facebook Live video from the scene showed the 31-year-old Yarmouth native sitting in the bed of a pickup truck loaded with supplies and speaking with law enforcement officers in the lead up to his arrest.
"As a public school teacher, as a dad and now as the Democratic nominee for Senate, I refuse ... to stand by as you imprison children," Ringelstein said to a border patrol agent.
He also demanded to deliver the materials he brought, visit the facility where children were being held and wanted to know how they would be reunited with their families.
It's unclear what charges he faces or if he has an attorney.
