Main Street Independent

TAG  ·  Religion & Society

society

DHS deployed masked agents, drones against Tohono O'odham prayer fire

Illustration accompanying article: DHS deployed masked agents, drones against Tohono O'odham prayer fire
  • ProPublica documented that the Department of Homeland Security deployed masked tactical operatives, drones, and 24-hour surveillance against the Tohono O'odham Nation during pre-construction work for a border wall on tribal land, with monitoring directed at an ongoing tribal prayer ceremony.
  • Border Patrol's special operations wing, BORTAC, participated in the Aug. 25 deployment; the same unit had taken part in Minneapolis and Chicago enforcement operations the previous year that left three people dead, including two U.S. citizens.
  • Tribe Chairman Verlon Jose received a one-minute email notice from acting Border Patrol Chief Henry N. Laxdal before contractors began soil testing for a 62-mile wall along the nation's southern boundary.
  • The Tohono O'odham Nation filed a federal lawsuit June 16 asserting that the wall would reduce its reservation, which only Congress can do; Judge Richard J. Leon denied a preliminary injunction on Aug. 14.
  • Justice Department attorney Adam R.F. Gustafson told the court the tribe had approved a barrier on its land many years ago and that the question of what kind of barrier it should be was for DHS to decide.
 2026-10-10 · 6 MIN READ

NSW commits to urgent review of unmarked communal burials

Illustration accompanying article: NSW commits to urgent review of unmarked communal burials
  • The New South Wales government has committed to an urgent review of unmarked communal burials at Rookwood Cemetery in western Sydney after Guardian Australia revealed that people it deemed too poor to afford funerals have been buried in unmarked graves, in some cases without notifying their families.
  • NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said he had not previously been aware of the practice and tasked his department with exploring reforms, including emulating Victoria's model of individual plots with markers, which costs about $3,000 per funeral.
  • Guardian Australia's investigation found at least 18 people known to homelessness services were buried in unmarked graves without the sector's knowledge, and identified at least six cases where families or community leaders were not informed before interment.
  • Independent senator David Pocock urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise dignified burial standards at national cabinet and seek a uniform agreement across states and territories.
  • NSW Health apologised for distress caused to families and updated its policy to require a uniform flat grave marker for burials, but burials have continued without markers because the cemetery operator says the state has not funded grave markings.
 2026-10-06 · 5 MIN READ
Illustration accompanying article: Organisers say 2,977 drones recreated the Twin Towers at full scale