Arizona border wall construction leads to demolition of historic tree

On October 5, U.S. Border Patrol agents and contractors removed environmental activists and demolished a historic Cottonwood tree, known as ‘La Abuela’ (the Grandmother), near Lochiel, Arizona. The tree, estimated to be between 150 and 250 years old, was the last remaining specimen of a group of four historical trees in the San Rafael Valley. The removal was conducted to facilitate the construction of a double border wall between the United States and Mexico.

Activists had maintained a camp at the site for approximately 70 days to protect the tree and protest the expansion of the border infrastructure. During the operation, reports indicated that agents forcibly evicted protesters, leading to several arrests and injuries. The Tohono O'odham Nation criticized the action as a demonstration of federal disregard for cultural and natural resources.

While the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated that pre-construction surveys found no active migratory bird nests, conservation groups like the Sierra Club noted the tree provided essential habitat and food for local wildlife. Following the demolition, some land defenders established a new treesit on the Mexican side of the border to continue their opposition to the construction.