A significant national monument in Arizona, which is home to sacred burial sites of Native Americans, is currently undergoing demolition as part of the construction for President Trump’s border wall, as confirmed by federal Customs and Border Protection. This operation, labeled “controlled blasting,” is taking place within the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and began without any prior consultation with the Tohono O’odham Nation, as reported by The Intercept.
“There has been zero engagement with the nation,” stated Congressman Evan Martinez, who chairs the House Committee on Natural Resources. “This administration is essentially disregarding the tribe’s heritage and, more importantly, its ancestry.” The site in question is located near the Tohono O’odham Nation, and archaeologists who examined the area reported discovering human remains that date back 10,000 years.
According to a statement from Customs and Border Protection, “The construction contractor has initiated controlled blasting to prepare for the new border wall system within the Roosevelt Reservation at Monument Mountain, part of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector.” This blasting is expected to continue intermittently throughout the month. The intention is to erect a 30-foot-high steel barrier as part of a 43-mile wall along the southwest border, with Martinez remarking that “this is merely the most blatant sign of the ongoing issues.”
While the Tohono O’odham Nation’s reservation is private property, the burial site falls on public land. Martinez is advocating for an urgent “government-to-government” dialogue with the Tohono O’odham Nation, expressing frustration over the lack of communication from federal authorities. He also highlighted that the current wall design poses significant migration challenges for various species, such as jaguars, deer, and pronghorn antelope, which inhabit the region.
Although CBP claims to have an “environmental monitor” present during the work, they provided little further information. The Trump administration has been able to proceed with the wall construction on public land due to a law enacted post-9/11, known as the REAL ID Act of 2005, which grants the federal government the authority to bypass other laws that obstruct national security initiatives. As a result, numerous laws—including the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Environmental Protection Act—have been waived to facilitate wall construction.
“Of the 21 times the (REAL ID) waiver has been utilized since 2005, 16 have occurred in just the last two and a half years,” Martinez remarked. “A historically significant area is being altered irreparably. It will never be restored.”
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In summary, the destruction of sacred Native American burial sites for the border wall construction has sparked outrage due to the lack of consultation with the Tohono O’odham Nation and the potential environmental impacts on local wildlife. The ongoing situation raises significant concerns about heritage preservation and ecological balance.