Federal trial planned for volunteer who left water in desert
By Stephanie Innes
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.23.2008

Rather than pay a $175 fine, a local aid volunteer is set to go on trial this week for leaving water jugs in the desert for illegal immigrants.
Daniel Millis, 29, is expected to go on trial in federal court Friday morning to defend himself against charges that he littered in Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in February.
The way he sees it, he was punished in the course of offering help.
He says he left 22 one-gallon water jugs in the desert as part of his work with the local faith-based immigrant-aid group No More Deaths.
"Littering is a crime, but humanitarian aid is not a crime," Millis said Tuesday.
Millis was cited as he and three other volunteers with No More Deaths were placing water jugs on a trail in the refuge, which is known to be heavily traveled by migrants who are illegally crossing into the United States from Mexico on foot.
No More Deaths regularly helps illegal immigrants by offering them food, water and medical aid, saying they want to stop the annual toll of illegal immigrants who die in Arizona's borderlands.
The federal citation for littering from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service amounts to a $150 fine and a $25 processing fee.
At the time Millis was cited, officials with the wildlife refuge explained that they have an enormous problem with trash, caused mainly by the illegal immigrants who regularly travel through, so it's imperative they enforce littering laws.
The refuge, about 60 miles southwest of Tucson, has seen as many as 2,000 illegal immigrants per day walking within its desert boundaries.
One of the biggest problems with trash in the refuge is its impact on wildlife, which can end up choking on plastic from the jugs, refuge officials said.
Millis, a Spanish teacher, continues to work with No More Deaths, though he personally has avoided putting out any more water jugs in Buenos Aires, he said. He's waiting for his case to be resolved.
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