Writer: Gilly Lyons
Environmental groups, researchers and members of the Indigenous O’odham tribe have raised concerns surrounding the significant construction near the desert oasis known as the Quitobaquito Springs. Impacts to the springs come as a result of the Trump administration’s push in recent years for the continuous construction of the wall lining the US-Mexico border.
The springs, located in south-west Arizona within the Organ Pipe Cactus national monument, have been under attack for centuries. This space is traditional and sacred to the people of the O’odham tribe, as it is a site for trading, growing food and spiritual ceremonies, as well as home to a vast ecosystem.The springs are also home to a number of species, including the Sonoyta pupfish, small mollusks called springsails and the Sonoyta mud turtle. This area is the only place on Earth where the pupfish and springsails live in the wild and is the only US habitat for the turtles. The destruction of this ecosystem has led researchers to raise concerns about the continued survival of these important species. The springs also provide a reliable source of water for wildlife. The springs are the only body of water for about 100 miles in each direction, making it essential for wildlife and humans who live in the area.
In 2020, the Trump administration built a 30 foot wall in this secluded area. The wall has impacted wildlife and important cultural aspects for the O’odham people. Environmental advocates, such as the Center for Biological Diversity, have taken steps to stop the destruction, including through a lawsuit against the Trump administration.
After the 2020 wall was completed, the springs’ flow went to an all-time low, and the pond portion dried up due to its lining cracking. As it was being relined, much of the aquatic wildlife was temporarily moved by researchers.
There are plans to build a second portion of the wall north of the existing one. This new section would also be 30 feet tall and would require heavy machinery to be built. This equipment could harm parts of the springs and also the grove of mesquite trees that lies next to the springs. Mud turtles often burrow in this grove, causing these trees to be part of the federally recognized critical habitat for the turtles.
While wildlife is in danger from the ongoing construction, the spiritual aspect of the land is also being harmed. Many members of the O’odham tribe are buried in the area. The springs have been a sacred site for water and tribal ceremonies for generations, and destroying this land has an effect not only on the natural life but also on the cultural importance for the tribe.
Normally, this kind of construction would have to go through extensive consultations and studies to ensure that it was abiding by laws like the Native American Graves Protection and Respiration Act, the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. However, the 2005 Read ID Act gives the head of the Department of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, the authority to waive these laws.
Environmental advocates, researchers and members of the O’odham tribe are concerned with the construction and are demanding action from the Trump administration. “It’s too much for us right now. It’s overwhelming, and everybody needs to know what’s happening,” Wynona Larson Yazzie, an O’odham elder, said in a recent interview with The Guardian. They ask that their tribal lands do not experience any more pain and suffering and are urging the American people to stand up for the conservation of the Quitobaquito Springs.
References
Ingram, P. (2026, May 29). Enviros sue to protect snail in Quitobaquito Springs from border wall construction. AZ Mirror. https://azmirror.com/2026/05/29/enviros-sue-to-protect-snail-in-quitobaquito-springs-from-border-wall-construction/
Ingram, P. (2026, July 30). As Trump admin pushes on with double border wall, Native community celebrates Az’s Quitobaquito Springs. Tucson Sentinel. https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/073026_quitobaquito_wall/as-trump-admin-pushes-with-double-border-wall-native-community-celebrates-azs-quitobaquito-springs/
Main, D. (2026, July 24). This desert oasis is a biological wonderland. Trump’s border wall threatens to destroy it. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/24/arizona-border-wall-endangered-species
Seukteoma, H. (2020, October 23). Standing Together: Our Fight for Quitobaquito. Medium. https://medium.com/center-for-biological-diversity/standing-together-our-fight-for-quitobaquito-ac6ea472f20b
About Author
