Work began on a border wall segment in southern Arizona despite Tohono O'odham opposition.
Why it matters: The move puts immigration enforcement, tribal land rights and federal authority back in direct conflict. It could deepen a legal fight over where border-barrier construction can proceed near reservation land.
- AP reported Aug. 27, 2026, that border wall work began near the Tohono O'odham Nation's reservation in southern Arizona.
- The tribe said about 20 Customs and Border Protection officers and contractors entered tribal land early that morning.
- The Nation accused the administration of trespassing and said the project would damage land sacred to the tribe.
- Judge Richard J. Leon denied the Nation's request for a preliminary injunction on Aug. 13, 2026.
AP reported that the Trump administration began work on a border wall segment in southern Arizona near the Tohono O'odham Nation's reservation, despite the tribe's objections. The Nation said about 20 Customs and Border Protection officers, working with contractors, entered tribal land early that morning to begin the project. AP report
The tribe said the work amounts to trespassing and would damage land it considers sacred. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said the wall project will close what he described as one of the most dangerous smuggling and trafficking corridors on the Southwest border. AP report
The legal fight has been playing out in federal court in Washington, D.C. In an Aug. 13 opinion, Judge Richard J. Leon denied the Nation's request for a preliminary injunction, writing that the government planned to replace an existing vehicle barrier with a congressionally authorized and funded border wall next to the reservation and that the Nation was unlikely to prevail on its claims. court opinion
The court record says the Tohono O'odham Nation has about 2.8 million acres of reservation land in Arizona and roughly 62 miles along the U.S.-Mexico border. It also says Congress appropriated $46 billion to CBP for border-barrier construction and related work in the legislation cited in the opinion. court opinion
AP said the start of work came earlier than the schedule described in court, which said CBP did not expect construction to begin before Oct. 12, 2026. AP report court opinion
By the numbers
- 20 - CBP officers and contractors the tribe said entered tribal land
- 2.8 million - acres of reservation land the opinion says the Tohono O'odham Nation has in Arizona
- 62 - miles of border the opinion says run along the Nation's reservation
Yes, but: The court ruling cited by AP denied an injunction, but it did not settle the underlying land-rights dispute.