The nation sued the Trump administration in June, seeking a preliminary injunction to block border wall construction on its lands. The border wall “would have devastating effects on the Nation’s lands and its people,” according to the complaint. Since its inception, the United States has frequently flip-flopped on its understanding of tribal sovereignty. These early treaties are a sign that from its inception, the US acknowledged tribal nations’ sovereignty—even though it typically failed to honor it. The debate over the border wall is just the latest example of the federal government choosing to ignore tribal sovereignty whenever it’s politically convenient.