Activists condemn felling of ancient trees for border wall

Federal workers cut down an ancient cottonwood tree on the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona on Monday, following the removal of protesters who had spent around 70 days defending it from President Donald Trump's plan to expand the border wall. The tree, referred to as the "grandmother" tree by activists, was the final of four older cottonwoods slated for removal at the site. Conservation organizations estimated its age to be between 200 and 250 years.

Just days after the final tree fell, a dozen protesters were arrested for attempting to halt the destruction of the last ancient cottonwood. According to reports from La Jornada, El Universal, KJZZ, The Washington Post, and Lookout, agents utilized a cherry picker to forcibly remove one protester from the cottonwood before the contractors toppled it.

Protesters claimed that the camp was established on private property, whereas U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated the trees were situated on federal land. It remains unclear if agents obtained a warrant to enter the encampment, which took place around dawn on Monday.

The Tohono O’odham Nation, a Native American tribe based in Arizona with ancestral lands extending into Sonora, Mexico, denounced the operation in a statement. The tribe's territory is a favored route for migrants attempting to enter the United States. They expressed deep concern over the federal government's "reckless disregard for cultural and natural resources" while building the wall.

The protest began in late July after the removal of three adjacent cottonwoods. Activists took turns atop a plywood platform within the remaining tree, receiving supplies via bucket and rope. Their occupation disrupted construction activities near the tree. The project involves constructing two parallel steel walls through the San Rafael Valley, which borders the state of Sonora in Mexico.

Conservationists describe the area as an essential wildlife corridor, with the cottonwoods offering food, shelter, and habitat for migratory birds near the Santa Cruz River.