Advocacy groups are asking Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer to show leniency against a Guatemalan immigrant arrested at the May 23 scene of protests and looting in 69^th Street, writes Laura Benshoff for whyy.org.

Juan Chub-Funes, 20,  and four others were seen by police leaving a woman’s clothing store with merchandise, according to the affidavit of probable cause but none of the five had merchandise when arrested.

He has been at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility for several months since his arrest and has been in the country illegally since age 17.

Groups like JUNTOS, MILPA, The Black and Brown Coalition of PHL, Delco DSA, and the Free Migration Project have petitioned Stollsteimer and the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office to drop the criminal charges.

“Juan saw a group of people coalescing and decided to go check it out,” wrote supporters in a 5,000-signature petition.  In prison, “[his] mental health is deteriorating,” they continued.

A Delaware County District Attorney’s Office representative said Upper Darby police charged the case appropriately.

Chub-Funes has an immigration hearing scheduled in June 2021. His attorney, Kim Tomczak, said she plans to request asylum for him.

Read more about Juan Chub-Funes’ case at whyy.org.

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