Tohono O'odham tribe sues US government over border wall construction
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The Tohono O’odham Nation filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government after approximately 20 armed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and construction workers entered tribal land in Arizona to begin border wall construction without prior consent. The tribe reported that federal authorities utilized vehicle blockades and a SWAT team to prevent tribal police from issuing trespassing citations at the sites. This conflict emerged as part of a multi-year dispute regarding the construction of a border barrier across 100km of territory that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border, with the tribe citing concerns over sovereignty, environmental damage, and the desecration of sacred sites.
Consequences
The ongoing legal battle will continue as the Tohono O'odham Nation seeks to protect its land rights following a federal judge's recent decision to decline a request for a preliminary injunction. The situation remains tense, with the tribe committed to further litigation despite the preference to allocate those resources toward member services.
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