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Homeland Security Secretary skips Tohono O'odham
Wednesday, May 4, 2005

New Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is making his first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border but he won't be stopping at the Tohono O'odham Nation, whose resources have been drained as a result of dealing with drug smuggling, migrants and other border-crossing issues

"I'm tired of being ignored," Tohono O'odham Chairwoman Vivian Juan-Saunders told The Tucson Citizen.

Juan-Saunders said the federal government is doing little to help address problems related to border-crossings, including deaths of migrants and seizures of thousands of pounds of illegal drugs. "We have so many needs here on the Nation," she said, "and yet we spend $7 million annually to do their job."

Chertoff is planning to visit other border-area communities but Juan-Saunders said, "He needs to see this for himself."

Get the Story:
U.S. chief of security angers O'odham leader (The Tucson Citizen 5/4)
Homeland Security chief to accompany Arizona's senators on visit to border (The Arizona Republic 5/4)

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