An Arizona tribe along the U.S.-Mexico border has filed a suit in federal court against the Department of Homeland Security. The complaint names Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott and U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rosario Vasquez as defendants.
The 37,000-member tribe submitted a motion for a preliminary injunction on Wednesday before the D.C. federal district court in hopes of halting the Trump administration from looking to build a wall along its 62-mile international boundary with Mexico.
According to the Tuesday complaint, the Department of Homeland Security notified the tribe in May about its plans to solicit contracts for construction on sovereign lands — without the tribe’s consent.
Customs and Border Protection anticipates awarding the contracts sometime later this month. “We would prefer not to file this lawsuit — and instead use these resources for our people,” said Tohono O’odham Chairman Verlon Jose in a social media message. “And it is our hope DHS will reconsider their plans once they see the strength of our arguments. However, at this point we have been left with no other choice.”
“The wall is a wasteful political gimmick,” added Tohono O’odham Vice Chairwoman Carla Johnson. “It will separate our families, desecrate our sacred sites and waters and harm our natural environment, while doing nothing to actually make us safer.”
In response to the legal filings, the Department of Homeland Security cites Mullin’s Cherokee citizenship and commitment to tribal sovereignty, telling KJZZ the agency “values its relationship with the Tohono O’odham Nation and remains focused on open communication and minimizing impacts.”
Coverage of tribal natural resources is supported in part by Catena Foundation.