Arizona Native American tribe opposes border wall

SELLS, Ariz. (NBC, KYMA) - Federal contractors are set to start uprooting thousands of sacred saguaros and other desert plants to make way for construction of the border wall.

However, those plans have come under fire from Native Americans who own, live and worship on that land.

This is the area in dispute belonging to the Tohono O'odham tribe.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security wants to use the property to build more than 60 miles of border wall.

Tribal leaders say it's about tribal sovereignty, religious freedom, and protecting the sacred, and the Tohono O'odham Nation filed an emergency injunction last week to prevent the wall's construction on their reservation.

They said a border wall will destroy sacred sites including burial sites on the reservation.

In June, the nation sued the federal government, trying to stop construction. Then in August, a federal judge ruled against the nation allowing construction to move forward.

The nation appealed that decision to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and is still is awaiting that ruling.

Last week, faith leaders and government officials from across southern Arizona joined leaders of the Tohono O'odham Nation for a prayer vigil and rally opposing proposed border wall construction on the reservation.

CBP is accepting public comments until October 29 on the federal plan to build 62 miles of border barrier on the reservation.