I just received this press release from the Tohono O'odham Nation by email and am reprinting it here in its entirety, as it is clear that the US federal government has crossed all lines and is violating the TO Nation's tribal sovereignty:
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026
ARMED FEDERAL AGENTS AND CONTRACTORS ENTER
TOHONO O’ODHAM NATION LAND, SET UP VEHICLE BLOCKADE
Tribal Members Urged to Stay Vigilant, Avoid Escalation, and Prioritize Personal Safety
SELLS, Ariz. – On Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, at 4:00 a.m., border wall contractors and approximately 20 masked, armed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents from the Tucson Sector entered the Tohono O’odham Nation land and began engaging in pre-construction activities. The contractors, who are on the Nation illegally, were accompanied by agents as they worked on three different locations near the border with drill trucks to conduct soil sampling and other activities.
This is in direct violation of the Tohono O’odham Code, Title 4, Chapter 2, “Civil Trespass; Removal and Exclusion of Nonmembers.” Tribal leadership previously warned unauthorized individuals attempting to access the Nation that they would be in violation of this trespassing law. Tohono O’odham Police Department (TOPD) officers were on the scene Tuesday morning and have been monitoring the situation.
In addition to the CBP agents, multiple BIA officers and a CBP BORTAC SWAT Team have been deployed to the Nation to protect the contractors, and a tethered balloon is being used by federal
authorities for enhanced monitoring. TOPD has been unable to issue citations due to a vehicle blockade set up by CBP. In addition, in coordination with U.S. authorities, Mexican police have been deployed to the southern side of the border to protect the areas while the border wall contractors are working.
Interactions between TOPD and federal authorities have remained peaceful and professional.
“These illegal actions by border wall contractors puts decades of successful partnership in jeopardy,” said Chairman Verlon M. Jose, Chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation. “As the federal government knows, effective border security relies on modern technology, not outdated and expensive static border
walls. This overreach by the Trump Administration must stop, and our sovereignty, along with tribal sovereignty across the country, must be respected.”
Drone footage of Tuesday’s illegal activities is available at https://www.tonation-nsn.gov.
#TohonoOodham #Oodham #Indigenous #Arizona #Mexico #BorderWall #ResistFascism #Fascism #Trump #USA #Law #
