Rep. Grijalva Statement After Federal Court Hears Tohono O'odham Nation's Challenge to Border Wall Construction

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Adelita S. Grijalva released the following statement after a federal district court in Washington, D.C. heard the Tohono O'odham Nation's lawsuit challenging the Department of Homeland Security's plan to construct a second border wall through the Nation's reservation.

"It is against the law for DHS to unilaterally alter the boundaries of a sovereign Tribal Nation, yet that is exactly what they are trying to do—usurping authority that only Congress has. We have already seen the devastating consequences of when this administration ignores Tribal governments with the destruction of the Las Playas Intaglio. Now, other sacred sites, such as Quitobaquito Springs, are under threat. This is not just temporary damage to land – it is irreparable destruction of a sacred place tied to the O’odham people’s history, identity, and spiritual practices.”

“This administration is willing to violate Tribal sovereignty, threaten culturally and environmentally significant lands, and waste billions of taxpayer dollars on another useless border wall that does nothing to make our communities safer. If DHS is serious about border security, they should invest in staffing and modernizing our ports of entry – not bulldozing sacred Tribal lands and building another unnecessary wall despite Tribal opposition."

In May, Rep. Grijalva questioned Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum about the destruction of the Las Playas Intaglio site during a House Natural Resources Committee hearing. She also asked him for assurances that Quitobaquito Springs would not be touched. This site was negatively impacted during the construction of the first border wall. 

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