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Mexico has been dumping raw sewage into the Tijuana River for years, and San Diego residents are literally sick of it. Now EPA Director Lee Zeldin is planning to go check out crisis soon.
From Axios: The head of the EPA is coming to the San Diego border to get a firsthand look at the ongoing Tijuana sewage crisis.
Why it matters: The announcement follows months of back-and-forth between local officials and the federal government over designating the Tijuana River Valley a Superfund site which would unlock EPA assistance in dealing with the crisis.
Lee Zeldin, President Trump’s new EPA administrator, wrote on X Tuesday that he’s coming in the next few weeks to the border “where disgusting Mexican sewage is harming our precious environment in the United States.”
In early March, Fox5 San Diego reported: Residents in southern San Diego County have been dealing with impacts from the cross-border pollution for years. The sewage has been impacting not only air and water quality, it is also sickening Navy SEALs that work and train in Coronado.
On March 8, Zeldin wrote on X, “I was just briefed that Mexico is dumping large amounts of raw sewage into the Tijuana River, and it’s now seeping into the U.S. This is unacceptable. Mexico MUST honor its commitments to control this pollution and sewage!”
I was just briefed that Mexico is dumping large amounts of raw sewage into the Tijuana River, and it’s now seeping into the U.S.
This is unacceptable. Mexico MUST honor its commitments to control this pollution and sewage!
— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) March 9, 2025
“I’ll be visiting the California-Mexico border in the coming weeks where disgusting Mexican sewage is harming our precious environment in the United States. Permanent solutions must be urgently implemented by Mexico to end decades of their filthy sewage flowing into the U.S.,” Zeldin announced on Tuesday.
I’ll be visiting the California-Mexico border in the coming weeks where disgusting Mexican sewage is harming our precious environment in the United States. Permanent solutions must be urgently implemented by Mexico to end decades of their filthy sewage flowing into the U.S.
— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) April 1, 2025
San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond posted a video showing the absolute filth being released and wrote, “I witnessed the Tijuana Sewage Crisis firsthand today—and it’s absolutely disgusting. Mexico is dumping raw sewage into our country, polluting our beaches and making our Navy SEALs sick. This isn’t just an environmental disaster—it’s a national disgrace. We must hold Mexico accountable. Our military, our beaches, and our families deserve better. No more delays. No more excuses. It’s time for action.”
He said he will be soon be going to Washington, D.C. and hopes to meet with Zeldin to discuss the crisis.
WATCH THIS:
I witnessed the Tijuana Sewage Crisis firsthand today—and it’s absolutely disgusting.
Mexico is dumping raw sewage into our country, polluting our beaches and making our Navy SEALs sick. This isn’t just an environmental disaster—it’s a national disgrace.
We must hold Mexico… pic.twitter.com/hUcxF6Et5p
— Supervisor Jim Desmond (@jim_desmond) March 30, 2025
In another video, Desmond announced:
Over the past five years, more than 100 billion gallons of raw sewage, industrial waste, and toxic runoff from Tijuana, Mexico have flooded across the border into our communities.
In 2023 alone, 44 billion gallons crossed into the U.S.—the most ever recorded. This sewage isn’t just disgusting—it’s dangerous. It contains E. coli, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, arsenic, and other toxic chemicals.
Our water is contaminated. Our air is polluted with aerosolized waste. Residents are reporting everything from skin infections to viral pharyngitis—and even family pets have gotten sick after exposure. And some beaches have now been closed for over 1,000 consecutive days.
That’s nearly three years of lost access to one of the greatest natural assets in America.
Over the past five years, more than 100 billion gallons of raw sewage, industrial waste, and toxic runoff from Tijuana, Mexico have flooded across the border into our communities.
In 2023 alone, 44 billion gallons crossed into the U.S.—the most ever recorded.
This sewage isn’t… pic.twitter.com/d0wkDFe5BV
— Supervisor Jim Desmond (@jim_desmond) April 1, 2025
News Nation reporter Brian Entin also went to investigate.
In one post on X, Entin wrote, “Update: On Monday, Mexico will send 400 million gallons of sewage into the USA. This on top of the sewage already running in through the Tijuana River. San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond says instead of rerouting the flow during maintenance, Mexico will just dump into USA.”
WATCH his report below:
Navy Seals train in the area.
Here is the Department of Defense Inspector General report on the issue from February:https://t.co/LjEf93jfJX— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) April 2, 2025
The new administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, has seemingly responded to Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre’s letter urging federal action on the Tijuana River sewage crisis impacting southern San Diego County https://t.co/4XnCXFDTZ2
— FOX 5 San Diego (@fox5sandiego) March 10, 2025
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