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Construction of 30-foot high steel bollard wall on or near the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge near Arivaca in July 2020.

Border wall construction heightens environmental concerns in sensitive habitats

Local residents, a sheriff and a wildlife expert weigh in on the impacts of physical barriers at the southern border.
Cracked mud flats appear on the surface of Quitobaquito pond on July 18, 2020.

Scientists: Border wall construction wreaking havoc at Quitobaquito Springs

More than two dozen ecologists, biologists and hydrologists say the desert oasis is in worse shape than ever.
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge encompasses nearly 118,000 acres southwest of Tucson and includes a stretch of the border with Mexico.

Work starts on new section of border wall in national wildlife refuge

North-Dakota-based Fisher Sand and Gravel has broken ground on a $1.3 billion project in southeast Arizona.
Quitobaquito pond, July 18, 2020.

'A worst-case scenario': Leaks, dust, water pumping and drought plague Quitobaquito

Border-hugging spring and its pond are sacred to Hia C-ed O'odham and the Tohono O'odham communities
A drone photo shows construction work beginning in the San Pedro riverbed on June 30, 2020.

Border wall construction begins across San Pedro River

The controversial project across Arizona's last free-flowing river is underway.
Ryan Parker Knox (left) and Joseph McGrath performing "The Mark on the Wall" by Virginia Woolf in the AZPM radio studio.

Rogue Radio presents Virginia Woolf's "The Mark on the Wall"

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Tucson Samaritans' 18 year mission continues; and how the border wall endangers the future of the Sonoyta mud turtle.
A construction worker works on installing 30-foot bollard fencing along Arizona's border with Mexico in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, February 2020.

Federal court rules president's use of military funds for border wall is illegal

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued their ruling Friday.
Life casts can be a powerful tool for self-exploration, says Paul Weir, a key organizer of Tucson's annual All Souls Procession.

Behind the Mask

Also on Arizona Spotlight: A plea on behalf of sacred lands threatened by border wall construction; and a sincere thank you to comic book legend Dennis J. O'Neil.
Drone camera image of border wall construction along the San Pedro River in early June, 2020.

CBP reveals a few more details about San Pedro River border barrier

The agency held an invitation-only meeting Friday to provide an update on the project.
Drone camera image of border wall construction along the San Pedro River in early June, 2020.

Border wall construction results in 'loss of trust' from community

While many locals are disturbed by the actual construction, they say being ignored in the process has been equally frustrating.
A toppled saguaro in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument on December 21, 2019.

Groups allege attempted sale of saguaros from border wall; ask state to investigate

A letter calls on the state to look into a border wall subcontractor and documentation around cacti impacted by construction.
A court document submitted by federal attorneys May 20 eliminates funding for a stretch of border wall that would have crossed through tribal land.

Defense Department cuts funding for border wall section in Yuma

A court document pulls funding for a 7-mile stretch that would have crossed tribal land.
Looking west toward the San Rafael Valley and the Patagonia Mountains.

Groups say border wall construction threatens biodiversity of Arizona sky islands

Conservation groups say the animals rely on the ranges to travel between habitats in the U.S. and Mexico.
A construction worker works on installing 30-foot bollard fencing along Arizona's border with Mexico in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, February 2020.

Lawsuits challenging border wall funding can move forward, judge rules

A U.S. District Court judge last week ruled two lawsuits brought by environmental groups will be allowed to continue.
A construction worker works on installing 30-foot bollard fencing along Arizona's border with Mexico in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, February 2020.

Environmental advocates say planned border construction threatens jaguar corridors

CBP announced plans to build more than 90 miles of border wall in an area advocates say is predominantly remote wilderness.
A group of Tohono O'odham, Hia C-ed O'odham, Pascua Yaqui and their non-Indigenous allies gathered, Sunday, March 8, 2020, beside the pond fed by Quitobaquito Springs to discuss how building the border wall and pumping local groundwater to make cement is harming the area cherished by the local Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous group reaffirms importance of Quitobaquito Springs amid border wall construction

The group discussed how construction and pumping local groundwater is affecting the sacred site.

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