Before the Wall: The Last Stand at Lochiel

Editor’s Note: The following article was originally published by Erin Patrick O’connor from the Border Chronicle on October 20, 2026.

As a double border wall rises through Lochiel, protesters gather to defend the ancient cottonwoods and the San Rafael Valley.

At the southern edge of Arizona, in the small border community of Lochiel, a double border wall now cuts through the San Rafael Valley, a once pristine grass valley and a vital wildlife corridor on the border for endangered species including jaguars and ocelots. For months, residents, environmental advocates, and others gathered in Lochiel to protest against the wall construction and protect the valley’s ancient cottonwood trees, which they called “grandmother trees.” 

In this report, video journalist Erin Patrick O’Connor captures the protest movement that grew over months to protect the valley and its centuries-old trees, and the impacts the double border wall will have on the binational community, wildlife, and the environment.

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