Aug 19, 06:12 PM

Lawmakers Press Trump to Halt Oak Flat Land Transfer to Foreign Miner

Democratic members of Congress are urging the Trump administration to halt a land-swap that would transfer more than 2,400 acres of federal land at Oak Flat, Arizona, to a foreign-owned mining company for a large copper project. Oak Flat is considered sacred by the San Carlos Apache and eight other Indigenous tribes, which say the project would permanently damage ceremonial sites, groundwater and local ecosystems. Lawmakers including Representatives Robin Kelly, Rashida Tlaib, Nikema Williams and Veronica Escobar said the planned hand-over, expected as soon as this week, prioritises corporate interests over tribal sovereignty and environmental protection. They called on the administration to withdraw the permit and consult affected tribes, warning that the decision could set a precedent for the exploitation of other cultural and religious sites on public land.