Construction crews blowing up parts of a national monument to make way for the border wall could be on the verge of destroying sacred burial sites, an Arizona congressman who represents the area told CNN.
But Rep. Raúl Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat, said he’s still hoping the crews will change course before it’s too late.
“You can’t replace these things. You can’t fix them once they’re gone,” Grijalva said. “And as someone that grew up in the borderlands, it’s painful to know that this is occurring.”
Controlled blasts began inside Arizona’s Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument last week, according to Ned Norris Jr., chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation, which is adjacent to the monument. The blasting was first reported last week by The Intercept, a news site.
US Customs and Border Protection did not respond to CNN’s inquiries about the explosions. In a statement to the Arizona Republic, the agency said blasts had started in the area.
“The controlled blasting is targeted and will continue intermittently for the rest of the month,” CBP said, according to the Republic. “U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to have an environmental monitor present during these activities as well as on-going clearing activities.”
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a park that encompasses more than 500 square miles in southern Arizona, bordering the Mexican state of Sonora. On the National Park Service website, it’s described as an International Biosphere Reserve with a “thriving community of plants and animals.”
Source: Congressman: Border wall construction blasts are threatening sacred burial grounds
