Volunteers risk prison after leaving food and water in the desert where migrants are dead

Five other No More Death volunteers face charges for "efforts to place food and water to save lives" in the Cabeza Prieta national refuge, the humanitarian group said. These volunteers will have tests in February and March.

Cabeza Prieta is the largest wilderness area in Arizona. It covers 803,418 acres of rugged isolated landscapes of the Sonoran Desert. A joint investigation was opened by US and Mexican authorities in 2001 after the death of at least 14 migrants in a single incident after crossing the border into the shelter. They were probably abandoned in the desert by smugglers, the authorities said at the time.

No More Deaths indicates that 155 migrants have died in the area since 2001.

Water Crucibles and Bean Cans

Hoffman was also charged with driving a motor vehicle in a wilderness area. Offenses are all offenses.

"This verdict challenges not only the volunteers of No More Deaths, but also the conscientious people of the country," said Catherine Gaffney, a No More Deaths volunteer, in a statement. "If giving water to someone who dies of thirst is illegal, what humanity remains in the law of this country?"

In his decision, Velasco stated that the shelter "was littered with unexploded ordnance (ammunition), illegal entry detritus in the United States and US Border Patrol vehicular traffic on and off the road. road". He also noted that the water and food left by the volunteers "eroded the national decision to keep the Refuge in its pristine nature."

One of the volunteers who is still waiting to be tried is Scott Warren, who, according to the group, will also be charged with a crime. and conspiracy related to his "work of humanitarian aid". His trial will take place at the end of May.

An affidavit in support of the summons from Hoffman, Holcomb, Huse and Orozco stated that the four volunteers entered the wilderness area without permission in August 2017 to leave cans of water and cans of beans.