Indigenous Tribe in ‘Standoff with Armed’ Agents Over Border Wall Warns CNN of ‘Total Devastation of Our People’

The leader of an indigenous tribe in a standoff with the federal government warned of the “total devastation” of his people should contractors continue construction of the southern border wall on what he claims is their land.

Verlon Jose, chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation, joined CNN’s Victor Blackwell on First of All on Saturday morning amid his tribe’s battle with federal agents in Sells, Arizona.

According to the tribe, they spotted armed federal agents building a piece of the southern border wall this week on what they say is their land. A judge ruled against the tribe’s lawsuit, saying the border wall is being built on federal land, something the tribe continues to disagree with.

Jose told Blackwell about the “standoff:”

The irreparable harm that will be caused to the tohono o’odham nation is the complete destruction of archaeological, sacred sites, holy sites, places of worship, places where people pray. Before the border. These places were already there. And so the irreparable harm that will be done with this being caused right now is just total devastation on our people. And so the devastation that some people don’t see right now and that’s hard to measure is the mental, emotional, and psychological effects that it has on our people.

Blackwell later asked about a letter the tribe’s leadership sent out telling members to be “vigilant” as the construction continues.

Jose said this was not a call for any violence, but rather a call for prayer and protest against the border wall construction in Sells.

He said:

We’re telling them you have the right to exercise your First Amendment [right]. You know, but be vigilant, be careful, and so forth. And so we are exercising all our options available to the nation. And we also have the responsibility to ensure the safety and the well-being of all, and even that does include the contractors. So while they are violating not only tribal law, federal law, because they have no authority to diminish the nation, we still have a responsibility to protect them, protect the people. And they’re not following tribal policy, tribal law, and federal law.

Watch above via CNN.

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