Masked agents from the United States Border Patrol had an early morning arrival on Aug. 25 to impose increased security measures in Tohono O’Odham Nation at a 62-mile border wall construction project through the tribe’s land in southern Arizona, according to both tribal and federal officials.
The Tucson 5 project is part of President Donald Trump’s preeminent immigration policy to construct a border wall along the entire southern border of the United States. Without it, the border wall remains incomplete. With construction, tribal sovereignty is attacked, and Tohono O’Odham families that live between the U.S. and Mexico are split.
On Tuesday at 4 a.m., border wall work moved forward with at least 20 masked agents who provided security for federal contractors doing, “pre-construction activities” according to a public service announcement released by the Tohono O’Odham Nation.
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, citing Congressional funding for the project and a recent federal court order, said federal agents in Tohono O’Odham are operating “under the legal authorities that apply.”
Tribal leaders cited the encounter as a direct trespassing violation under Tohono O’Odham Code. The tribe sent its police to monitor, which observed officers from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a BORTAC SWAT Team and a “tethered balloon” for enhanced monitoring.
“The contractors, who are on the nation illegally, were accompanied by agents as they worked on three separate locations near the border with drill trucks to conduct soil sampling and other activities,” according to the statement issued by Chairman Verlon M. Jose.
Border Patrol also set up roadblocks in the area. Tohono O’Odham Nation reported that interactions between police agencies have been peaceful and professional.
It’s unclear what legal action, if any, the tribe has right now to stop any border wall construction. Legal consultation is underway for Tohono O’Odham to determine how it can, “de-escalate the situation, remove unauthorized individuals from our land and move forward with appropriate legal filings.”
