Overview:
U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is criticizing the Department of Homeland Security for what he describes as inadequate tribal consultation with the Tohono O’odham Nation as the Trump administration advances border wall construction on tribal lands. Gallego says federal officials have failed to meaningfully engage the Nation, particularly regarding sacred lands, and argues that border security should not come at the expense of tribal sovereignty. His latest comments follow concerns he raised during Markwayne Mullin’s DHS confirmation hearing in March.
Responding to masked federal agents showing up on the Tohono O’odham Nation to oversee construction of the southern border wall, U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is calling into question the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s failure to properly consult with the tribe.
“One concern I have, when it comes to building some of these installations on the border, there has been very little to no tribal consultation, especially with some of our border tribes in the Tohono O’odham Nation, where […] there is a border wall going through tribal land—sacred land—that is not crossed or used by human smugglers. It is important DHS speak to these communities,” Senator Gallego said in a press statement Wednesday.
This is not the first time the first-term Arizona senator has raised concerns about DHS’s tribal consultation practices.
In March, Gallego questioned then-Sen. Markwayne Mullin at his confirmation hearing to head DHS about the Trump administration’s lack of tribal consultation on border infrastructure projects, particularly those affecting sacred lands.
“One concern I have, when it comes to building some of these installations on the border, there has been very little to no tribal consultation, especially with some of our border tribes in the Tohono O’odham Nation, where […] there is a border wall going through tribal land—sacred land—that is not crossed or used by human smugglers. It is important DHS speak to these communities,” Gallego said. “But this last [DHS] did not talk to them whatsoever. […] I think it is important we reestablish tribal sovereignty.”
Mullin agreed to work with tribal nations, stating, “I appreciate tribal sovereignty. We do have a job to secure the border, but we will work with tribal nations because there are other ways to have a physical barrier.”
“Instead, the entire ‘consultation’ process has been a sham. DHS told the Tohono O’odham Nation that the agency would build a wall on their land whether they liked it or not.
“Now, rather than try to engage in good faith and defuse the situation, Trump has needlessly escalated by sending dozens of armed agents on the Nation’s land without so much as a heads up or warning.
“As I’ve said before, we can have both border security and tribal sovereignty. This is not that.”
