Armed Border Patrol agents raided a protest camp in Lochiel, in southeast Arizona, making way for contractors to cut down the last standing cottonwood tree Monday morning for a double border wall, after protesters protected it for more than 70 days.

Activists in Lochiel said at least 12 people had been arrested as of 8 a.m. during the ongoing raid. Border Patrol agents ignored demands for a warrant as they entered the private property and destroyed tents, according to news releases from activist groups on the ground.

Dubbed the “grandmother tree,” the cottonwood cut down Monday was hundreds of years old. It was one of several that lined the edge of private property along Border Road, a dirt road that runs along the U.S.-Mexico border, in a remote area of Arizona in the San Rafael Valley about 25 miles east of Nogales. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday in a statement to Arizona Luminaria that it has now removed all four cottonwood trees on federal land in Lochiel that were marked for removal. 

“CBP recognizes the importance of protecting the environment, wildlife, and cultural resources during border wall construction,” the statement said. “While concerns exist about impacts to sensitive areas, it is important to note that illegal immigration itself poses significant environmental challenges. High volumes of unauthorized crossings often result in substantial amounts of trash, pollution, and damage to natural resources, including sensitive habitats and agriculture.”

CBP did not answer additional questions from Arizona Luminaria about how many protesters were arrested or what charges they face.

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