U.S. Court Temporarily Blocks Trump from Handing Over Sacred Apache Land Rich in Copper to Rio Tinto
A U.S. federal judge has temporarily barred President Donald Trump's administration from transferring ownership of disputed land to the Rio Tinto company for the construction of a copper mine, a move opposed by local Native Americans.
In the long-standing battle over the "Resolution Copper" project, the religious rights of the San Carlos Apache in Arizona are clashing with the growing demand for copper, driven by the energy transition and Washington's efforts to expand domestic production of the metal, reports Reuters as cited by Danas.
In an 18-page ruling, U.S. Judge Steven Logan stated that “Apache Stronghold” – a nonprofit group of Apaches and their allies – is likely to succeed in its appeal to the Supreme Court, and therefore, the land transfer should be halted for now.
He added that it was determined (and even likely) that irreparable harm would be caused if the transfer proceeded.
The dispute concerns land at the “Oak Flat” site, which is federally owned and considered sacred by the Apache people.
The location, however, holds reserves of more than 18.1 million tons of copper – a key component for electric vehicles and almost all electronic devices.
The “Resolution” project, if launched, would create a crater three kilometers wide and 304 meters deep, thereby destroying the site where the Apache worship their deities.
Since 2021, courts have rejected the Apache request to block the transfer. Judgments have been delayed by a 2014 decision made by the U.S. Congress and then-President Barack Obama.
President Trump began the land transfer during his first term, a move later reversed by Joseph Biden, while the case continued to circulate through various courts.
The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering whether to take up the case. The Court has said at least 13 times that it will continue to review the appeal request — an unusually high and prolonged process.
Meanwhile, Trump last month reignited the process of transferring the land, aiming to complete it by June 16.
