Tohono O’odham Tribe Protests Federal Trespassing for Border Wall Construction

The Tohono O’odham Nation, an Indigenous tribe straddling the US-Mexico border in Arizona, has formally accused US federal agents and construction workers of illegally trespassing on tribal land to advance border wall projects.

According to a statement released Tuesday, approximately 20 armed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, masked and accompanied by contractors, conducted pre-dawn activities at three locations on the reservation.

Tribal authorities reported that CBP obstructed local police from issuing trespassing citations, establishing a vehicle blockade and deploying a SWAT team to secure the work sites. Additional surveillance measures, including a tethered balloon and presence of Mexican police, were noted.

The tribe emphasized that interactions with federal forces remained professional but underscored the violation of sovereignty. This incident is part of an escalating conflict with the Trump administration, which has prioritized border wall construction despite opposition from Indigenous groups.

The dispute dates back to Trump’s first term (2017-2021), when the administration proposed a barrier to curb irregular migration. The Tohono O’odham, like other tribes, opposed construction due to threats to sacred sites, habitats, and tribal lands.

As a federally recognized tribe of around 37,000 members, the Tohono O’odham Nation manages approximately 100 kilometers of the border, with territory in both Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. Tribal members frequently cross the border using identification cards, exercising their rights.

Under US law, tribes hold “domestic dependent nation” status, granting sovereignty but placing them in a complex relationship with federal authority. Legal battles over land use are common.

In June, the tribe’s legislature unanimously voted to sue the administration over land appropriation for the wall. They highlighted their cooperation in border security, claiming a 95% reduction in cross-border detentions, and argued that construction without consent infringes on Indigenous rights.

The nation stated that the Department of Homeland Security has “disregarded our sovereignty,” ignoring effective security strategies and causing irreversible cultural and environmental harm.

“We have no choice but to litigate,” the tribal government said, prioritizing protection of their people and culture.

Despite a federal judge’s refusal in August to issue a preliminary injunction halting construction, the tribe continues to resist, posting large signs warning against trespassing.

The administration contends that border-area land is federal property based on a 1907 proclamation, but a 2023 Government Accountability Office report documented harm to Indigenous sites from wall construction.

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