Tribe clashes with Zinke on need for Mexican border wall

A Native American tribal leader whose territory straddles the Arizona-Mexico border is criticizing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke for his suggestion that building a wall would increase security, saying it would have "substantial negative impacts." The chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation said in a letter to Zinke on Saturday that the tribe opposes a "fortified" wall, adding that the tribe has enacted dozens of resolutions against it. "It is equally clear to us that construction of a wall simply will not further the objective of security the border," Edward Manuel, the tribe's chairman wrote. "Accordingly, the construction of a wall along the Nation's border will waste taxpayer money that would be much better spent on more effective safety measures." The comments followed Zinke's visit to the Arizona border on Saturday. While there, he tweeted a number of photos thanking Border Patrol agents, as well as one that called his meeti theng with Manuel "productive" and said the two had a shared interest in building a wall...MORE

 As one reads the Chairman's comments, keep in mind the Tohono O’odham reservation has served as a major pathway used by the cartels to move illegal immigrants and drugs. See here and here.. And is even an area where there has been a documented incursion by the Mexican Military.