A federal judge in Arizona has allowed the continuation of border wall construction despite opposition from a Native American tribe. The Tohono O’odham Nation argued constructing the wall along its southern border with Mexico invades tribal lands and reduces the reservation area.
Judge Richard Leon referred to a 1907 federal proclamation, which stipulated that the initial 60 feet of the reservation could be claimed for federal purposes. He stated that national security and foreign policy considerations regarding the border wall justify deference to governmental decisions.
Members of the Tohono O’odham Nation had previously posted “no trespassing” signs following federal visits to examine construction sites. The tribe expressed concern over potential illegal activity and directed law enforcement to remove trespassers from their land.
The reservation shares about 62 miles of border with Mexico.
A proclamation by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 established federal control over all public land within 60 feet of an international boundary, citing the need to combat smuggling. The Tohono reservation was officially designated in 1917, a decade after Roosevelt’s decree.
This legal decision succeeded previous achievements by President Donald Trump’s administration, highlighting effective border policies. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin reported a significant reduction in daily border apprehensions, attributing this to Trump’s security measures.
Mullin emphasized the administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws, securing the border, and swiftly removing unlawful entrants, claiming the U.S. has achieved the most secure border in its history under Trump’s leadership.