DHS Sends Masked Agents, Blimp Against Tohono O'odham Over Border Wall
A ProPublica investigation details how DHS used surveillance, masked federal agents and a blimp to push a 62-mile wall through tribal land in Arizona.
What to know
- DHS sent masked, tactical-gear-clad federal agents — drawn from a unit tied to deadly sweeps in Minneapolis and Chicago — along with a surveillance blimp, drones and Mexican security forces to guard wall construction on the Tohono O'odham reservation.
- The Nation's federal lawsuit arguing the wall violates tribal sovereignty was rejected after administration attorneys assured a judge DHS was acting in good faith; hours later agents blocked the tribe's own police chief from the worksite.
- The confrontation follows 25 years in which the Nation allowed DHS to test aggressive surveillance and enforcement measures on its land specifically to avoid a wall being built through tribal territory.
Verlon Jose Chairman, Tohono O'odham NationHenry N. Laxdal Acting chief patrol agent, Border Patrol Tucson SectorU.S. Department of Homeland Security Agency building the wallTrump administration Policy driver of wall construction
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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ProPublica publishes investigation into DHS tactics on the Nation
The outlet's investigation found DHS has turned 24-hour surveillance and militarized operations on tribal members despite a quarter-century of O'odham cooperation that had previously staved off a wall.
“commitment to ongoing coordination…”
— Henry N. Laxdal, Acting chief patrol agent, Border Patrol Tucson Sector · source -
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NEW: Early on Aug. 25, the Tohono O’odham Nation received a one-minute notice from Border Patrol. A convoy of contractors — guarded by masked agents — was en route to conduct testing for a coming border wall. The tribe was warned: Do not interfere.
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During Donald Trump’s first term, Arizona saw 226 miles of border wall built, but the Tohono O’odham Nation maintained its status as the longest unwalled section in the state. Confirmation that things would be different this time came in February, when CBP informed the tribe that it planned to seal off the reservation entirely, tapping nearly $52…
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For a quarter-century, a border tribe has staved off plans for a wall on their land by allowing DHS to use it as a testing ground for border security. But the Trump administration has cast off any pretense of cooperation with the Nation.
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Masked agents block tribal police, deploy blimp over reservation — Federal agents in masks and tactical gear, drawn from a unit involved in deadly sweeps in Minneapolis and Chicago, guarded the contractors and set up a roadblock that stopped the tribe's chief of police; DHS also flew a surveillance blimp and brought in Mexican security forces.
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Border Patrol gives tribal chairman minutes' notice of convoy — Acting Tucson Sector chief patrol agent Henry N. Laxdal emailed Nation chairman Verlon Jose as contractors and Border Patrol vehicles were already en route to the reservation to begin soil testing for the wall.
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Judge denies tribe's request to halt construction — A federal judge in Washington, D.C. denied the Nation's request for a preliminary injunction after administration attorneys assured the court DHS was engaging with the tribe in good faith.
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Tohono O'odham Nation sues to block border wall — The tribe took its opposition to the 62-mile wall to federal court, arguing the Trump administration's push to build it despite tribal objections amounted to an attack on tribal sovereignty.
What people are saying 5 voices from 2 sites · best of 10 · verbatim
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"***For Deshane Gregg, whose vehicle was forced off the road by a convoy of contractors and federal agents, the recent show of force on the reservation has felt like a government siege, not cooperation."*** https://www. propublica.org/article/tohono- oodham-nation-arizona-border-wall # propublica # tohono -oodham-nation # ice # invasion
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The Tohono O’odham Nation sued to stop a wall from being built on their land. In court, DHS gave assurances that the government would engage with the tribe in good faith. ProPublica found that DHS has surveilled an ongoing border prayer ceremony and questioned tribal members outside the reservation. Despite steep declines in border crossings…
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DHS has turned its vast security apparatus on Tohono O’odham Nation members, with 24-hour surveillance directed at an ongoing border prayer ceremony and tribal members being questioned outside the reservation about their ceremonial activities. @ryandevereaux.bsky.social's @propublica.org debut
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After a judge denied a preliminary injunction to stop the border wall, contractors on the Tohono O’odham Nation, straddling the Arizona border, are now protected from oversight by by armed agents A roadblock prevents the tribe’s chief of police from reaching the worksite ✏️ @propublica.org
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TL;DR: The DHS employs aggressive tactics, including surveillance and drones, to intimidate the Tohono O'odham Nation as Trump's border wall project progresses, raising significant concerns over privacy and rights. https://www. propublica.org/article/tohono- oodham-nation-arizona-border-wall # law # tech # legaltech ⚖️ 🤖 # autosum