[The Hill] A federal judge on Friday reportedly found four women guilty of misdemeanors after they illegally entered a national wildlife refuge along the US-Mexico border to leave water and food for undocumented migrants.
According to The Arizona Republic, the four women were aid volunteers for No More Deaths, an advocacy group dedicated to ending the deaths of undocumented immigrants crossing desert regions near the southern border.
One of the volunteers with the group, Natalie Hoffman, was found guilty of three charges against her, including operating a vehicle inside the Cabeza Prieta national wildlife refuge, entering a federally-protected wilderness area without a permit, and leaving behind gallons on water and bean cans.
The charges reportedly stemmed from an August 2017 encounter with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife officer at the wildlife refuge.
The other three co-defendants ‐ which includes Oona Holcomb, Madeline Huse and Zaachila Orozco-McCormick ‐ were reportedly passengers in Hoffman’s truck at the time and were also charged with entering federally-protected area without a permit in addition to leaving behind personal property.
Each of the women face up to six months in prison for the charges and a $500 fine after being found guilty. |