The Supreme Court of the United States has declined to hear an appeal from Apache Stronghold, a group representing members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, thereby clearing the way for the development of the Resolution Copper mine in Arizona. This decision leaves intact a lower court ruling allowing a land transfer of federal forest land at Oak Flat—a site sacred to the Apache people—to the joint mining venture.

For proponents of the project, the ruling signals a major advance for domestic resource production and economic growth. Resolution Copper estimates the mine contains roughly 40 billion pounds of copper and could generate around $1 billion annually for Arizona’s economy while creating thousands of jobs. It also aligns with national-security and infrastructure goals given copper’s critical role in clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

However, the decision has sparked significant criticism from Indigenous groups, environmental organizations, and even two Supreme Court justices in dissent—Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas—who warned that approving the destruction of a sacred site could set a dangerous precedent for religious and cultural protections. They argued that Oak Flat holds profound spiritual significance for the Apache people, and this ruling remains deeply contentious.

While the ruling allows the mine to proceed, the conflict is far from over. Apache Stronghold has pledged to continue its legal and legislative efforts, calling on Congress to intervene and vowing to protect Oak Flat’s religious and cultural legacy. The case underscores the complex interplay between economic priorities, indigenous rights, environmental stewardship, and national policy—highlighting that even when legal avenues close, cultural and moral debates endure.