2 women were 'bonding over the beauty of a hike' when they were killed in Utah, family says
Key Takeaways
- It has been reported that two women were killed while hiking in Utah; their family said they were bonding over the beauty of the trail.
- Authorities are investigating; details on suspects, motive, or the victims’ nationalities have not been made public.
- For noncitizen victims and families, consular notification, emergency visa appointments, and humanitarian parole may be relevant.
- Crime-victim programs and immigration relief such as U visas for certain “indirect victims” may apply in homicide cases, subject to strict criteria and long wait times.
- Families should document contact with law enforcement and seek state victim assistance while exploring consular and immigration options.
What is known
According to reporting, two women were killed during a hike in Utah while “bonding over the beauty” of the outdoors, their family said. Few official details have been released. It has been reported that law enforcement is investigating, but authorities have not disclosed the victims’ immigration status, whether they were U.S. citizens or foreign nationals, or any arrest information. In such cases, next-of-kin notifications and cooperation with investigators become critical, as do timely decisions about travel, funerals, and—if applicable—repatriation of remains.
Why this matters for immigrants and international visitors
When a violent crime involves a noncitizen victim in the U.S., local authorities have obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations to offer consular notification and access. For nationals of some countries, consular notification is mandatory; for others, it occurs upon the individual’s request. Families abroad often need to travel quickly: U.S. embassies can expedite B‑1/B‑2 (visitor) visa interviews for funerals and medical emergencies, and Visa Waiver Program travelers (ESTA) may be able to enter without a visa if otherwise eligible. If a visa cannot be obtained in time, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may consider case‑by‑case humanitarian parole for “urgent humanitarian reasons” under INA 212(d)(5), though approvals are discretionary and not guaranteed.
Resources and next steps for affected families
State victim compensation funds can help with funeral and counseling costs; many programs do not condition eligibility on immigration status but generally require cooperation with law enforcement. In Utah, the state administers a crime victim reparations program that may assist eligible survivors. Separately, certain family members of deceased victims of qualifying crimes—including murder or manslaughter—can sometimes qualify as “indirect victims” for U nonimmigrant status (the U visa) if they are helpful to investigators or prosecutors. Qualifying relatives vary by the victim’s age (for example, a deceased adult victim’s spouse and children may be eligible; for a deceased minor, parents and certain siblings may qualify). U visas require law enforcement certification (Form I‑918, Supplement B), and backlogs are extensive; USCIS may grant interim work authorization after a “bona fide determination,” but full adjudication can take years. Families should preserve documentation, request case numbers from police, contact their consulate, and consult a qualified immigration attorney or accredited representative to assess visa, parole, and victim‑relief options.
Source: Original Article