NEW: At the Arizona border, Native American activists and conservationists told me Trump is fulfilling his campaign promise to build a border wall.
The wall, dismissed by some as “replacement,” is destroying the environment and sacred sites, they say.
The wall, dismissed by some as “replacement,” is destroying the environment and sacred sites, they say.
“This notion that it's not new really takes away from the fact that this is ripping Arizona and the rest of the borderlands in two,” @LaikenJordahl of @CenterForBioDiv told me in front of an example of old vehicle barrier next to “replacement” wall. 
“As far as him failing, no, he didn't fail... he's building the wall... he’s doing exactly what he said he would do,” said B, an Indigenous activist of O’odham Jawed as we overlooked Quitobaquito Springs in @OrganPipeNPS. Its water level has dropped during construction.
Tensions are extremely high along the border with several Indigenous activists arrested in recent weeks and violent clashes between the NPS, Border Patrol and activists.
We were followed by Border Parrol along public roads. CBP admitted it was surveilling us in this statement.
We were followed by Border Parrol along public roads. CBP admitted it was surveilling us in this statement.
Many people, myself included, have dismissed Trump’s wall building as only nine miles of “new” wall. But it’s *all* making a huge impact on the borderlands, including critical jaguar habitat as @PeccaryNotPig and Randy Serraglio showed us near @CoronadoNF.
Thank you to @madhaeringer, @reidcherlin and @thereportnbc for commissioning this reporting, to @KatyTurNBC for airing it in full on @MSNBC on a busy news day, and of course @AarneHeikkila, Dana, Craig and Mitch for your work in the field and back at home as always.
TLDR: Yes, Trump is building his wall.
Update: since we toured border wall construction in @OrganPipeNPS with @LaikenJordahl, the road we took to Quitobaquito Springs, the sacred site protestors have been clashing with Border Patrol over, has been shut down. @AlisaReznick reports for @azpmnews. news.azpm.org/p/news-topical…
Fascinating open source data analysis of water drop we saw at Quitobaquito springs by @obtusatum at @bellingcat. Says CBP claiming it isn't related to Trump wall construction "would seem to conflict with the drought pattern analysis detailed above." bellingcat.com/resources/2020…
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