When a U.S. Army veteran was arrested on conspiracy charges for his role in an anti-ice protest in Spokane, Washington last summer,

it was the first time an American had been charged with conspiracy in connection with the ongoing ICE protests.

Some legal experts saw it as an escalation of the administration's efforts to suppress even criminalize First Amendment rights.

Special correspondent Aaron Glance has the story which was produced with the support of the Pulitzer Center.

The sound of banging on Army veteran Bajan Malvawala's front door startled him awake at 6 a.m.

The morning of July 15, 2025.

Something's not right. And I went and I looked out the upstairs window.

The streets all closed off and there's a bunch of guys with rifles.

It was the FBI and they had come to arrest him.

My dad very, very quickly after that was like, you know, Baj, it's the FBI, they've got a warrant.

Bajan was arrested for conspiracy for his role in an anti-ice protest more than a month earlier.

I'm in that instant better.

I'm going to America, Sesson.

Bajan kept his cool in handcuffs while the FBI searched his pockets. Have you been read your rights?

His father recorded this video.

My son is steady as a rock, saying, you know, he's an Afghanistan veteran, that this is unjust.

If convicted, Bejan would face up to six years in prison.

I don't think that you really realize how far away we've come from democracy until you

open the door and see federal agents to arrest your son for a nonviolent protest.

Bejian comes from a military family. His parents both served in the Army.

His father, Bejan Ray Mavala, a retired intelligence officer, earned three bronze stars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He and Bejan served in Afghanistan at the same time.

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