1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Dear Mr. President, Members of Congress, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Thank you for your attention and leadership on the long-standing sewage crisis impacting communities along the San Diego–Mexico border. In 2019, under the previous administration, the Tijuana River Diversion Study (Arcadis Report) identified the permanent solution to stop Mexican sewage from contaminating U.S. waters. Congress then appropriated $300 million under the USMCA to keep all Tijuana sewage in Mexico and protect U.S. coastal communities. However, the Biden administration—working with Governor Gavin Newsom and select special-interest groups—abandoned that proven solution and replaced it with a plan that dramatically worsens the crisis. The current EPA proposal will increase Mexican sewage discharged into U.S. territorial waters by more than 600%, directly offshore of Coronado and near the new SEAL Team training facility. This shift places Mexico’s interests ahead of the health and safety of American citizens, military personnel, and coastal ecosystems. U.S. residents who opposed this change were blocked from 2022 stakeholder meetings, while Mexican representatives from the Core Group were granted access and influence. At no point were local communities shown a transparent comparison between the original 2019 Arcadis plan and the newly adopted Biden/Newsom proposal. We are concerned that key decision-makers—including those now advancing the USMCA wastewater plan—may not be aware that the original Arcadis design aligned with decades of U.S. policy. The 1980s pipeline infrastructure was intentionally engineered to redirect Mexican sewage south, away from San Diego, ensuring contaminated flows remained in Mexico before entering coastal currents. The Biden/Newsom plan dismantles this system entirely. If implemented, Mexico will receive a 300% reduction in its pollution burden, while the United States—particularly San Diego—will suffer a 600% increase in sewage discharged offshore. This outcome contradicts the intent of Congress, the goals of USMCA, and the commitments made to U.S. border communities. We urgently request that you halt funding for the current plan and order a full, independent investigation into why the 2019 Arcadis solution—designed to permanently protect U.S. waters—was discarded. Our communities seek one outcome: all Mexico-sourced sewage must be diverted back into Mexico for treatment, restoring public health, environmental safety, and national security along our coastline. Please help us.