WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: All Around Applause for Trump Administration’s Agreement with Mexico to End Tijuana River Sewage Crisis
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, in Mexico City, Mexico, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Secretary of the Environment and National Resources of Mexico Alicia Bárcena Ibarra to address and solve the decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis. For many years, untreated raw sewage has flowed into Southern California from Mexico and polluted the Tijuana River Valley, causing beaches to close and quality of life to decline for Americans. This agreement achieves the three top Trump Administration priorities and milestones critical to ensuring a 100% solution to this issue:
- Mexico will obligate the remaining $93 million of Minute 328 funds that they hadn’t yet obligated.
- The timeline for completion of the remaining Minute 328 projects have been reduced.
- Several necessary Mexico side projects have been added to account for future population growth in Tijuana and operation and maintenance costs.
This MOU is a direct result of the recent negotiations between the Trump Administration and Mexico following Administrator Zeldin’s visit to San Diego in April. Immediately after the trip, Administrator Zeldin and EPA leadership began working with the U.S. Department of State to enter into negotiations with Mexico.
Here’s what people are saying:
United States Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson: “As President Trump’s envoy to Mexico, it is an honor to welcome EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for the signing with Secretary Alicia Bárcena of a new Memorandum of Understanding addressing the long-standing wastewater crisis affecting the people of Tijuana and San Diego. Our governments are turning commitment into action.”
Mexico Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Alicia Bárcena: “Con pleno respeto a nuestras soberanías, firmamos con Administrator Zeldin el primer acuerdo entre Estados Unidos y México por instrucciones de la presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum El Memorándum refuerza la colaboración para atender desafíos ambientales y de salud de la frontera norte.”
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan: “I commend Administrator Zeldin for his leadership on this important issue to safeguard the health and readiness of U.S. Navy personnel, helping our Sailors remain ready to meet the challenges ahead.”
U.S. Department of State Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs: “Thanks to the strong commitment of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, Administrator Zeldin and Mexican counterparts reached a comprehensive agreement to end the decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis. This MOU, consistent with our America First foreign policy, will clean San Diego beaches and improve public health for communities on both sides of the border.”
U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) Commissioner Chad McIntosh: “The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission thanks President Trump and EPA Administrator Zeldin for their leadership that resulted in today's Memorandum of Understanding being signed in Mexico City. This agreement is a major step toward achieving the Trump Administration's goal of a long-lasting, comprehensive solution to the Tijuana River pollution crisis. The USIBWC is committed to protecting Americans from exposure to Mexican sewage. . . The USIBWC is grateful for the support of the Trump Administration, EPA Administrator Zeldin, and all our federal, state, local, and community stakeholders as we work together to finally solve this problem with the sense of urgency it deserves.”
Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT): “It’s about time we stop poisoning our Marines, Sailors, and citizens who live along the beautiful Silver Strand. This is a huge win for America. Stopping millions of gallons of sewage flowing into our communities is common sense. Thank you Administrator Zeldin and President Trump for your focus and skill in getting this done. As someone who used to swim through the s***, I am very happy!”
Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA-48): “As one of the first priorities, President Trump and Administrator Zeldin are delivering action and accountability to fix the Tijuana sewage issue. San Diego is grateful for their leadership and commitment to deliver lasting improvement for the region.”
Representative Mike Levin (D-CA-49): “I welcome today’s EPA announcement that accelerates construction timelines on the Mexican side of the border.”
Representative Scott Peters (D-CA-50): “I very much appreciate the consistent, persistent focus that the EPA and the International Boundary and Water Commission continue to give the cross-border sewage crisis that plagues South San Diego County and our coast. In particular, I thank both agencies for their ongoing work with the design and engineering consulting team to find ways to shorten the timeline for progress.”
Representative Juan Vargas (D-CA-52): “The EPA has signed a new memorandum of understanding with Mexico to continue construction of water infrastructure projects to clean up cross-border pollution. I welcome this announcement.”
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria: “This is a win for public health and cross-border collaboration. EPA and the Sheinbaum Administration have charted a path forward for key repairs to reduce sewage in the Tijuana River Valley—a huge step toward ending this crisis. Thank you, Administrator Zeldin and President Sheinbaum.”
San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson: “Thank you President Trump, Administrator Zeldin, and EPA Region 9 for your swift action to solve this crisis after 4 years of inaction! It was only a few short months ago that you came to San Diego and met with a bipartisan group of local leaders. Your detailed and direct approach, which included hard deadlines, helped provide a permanent solution to a decades long issue.”
San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond: “Today’s announcement on the Tijuana Sewage Crisis marks a significant step forward for San Diego and our coastal communities. I commend the Federal Government and Administrator Zeldin for making this a true priority.”
American First Policy Institute California: “It’s been 45 years since Congressman Brian Bilbray brought the bulldozer to Imperial Beach and we finally have an Administration that is delivering a permanent solution to the Tijuana sewage crisis! Thank you Administrator Zeldin . . . Great news for Imperial Beach, San Diego and our U.S. Navy!”
American Rivers President and CEO Tom Kiernan: “Investing in our rivers and shared water resources will always pay dividends in the end. They are the foundations of communities, economies and vital to our nation’s prosperity. This is a massive step forward for the Tijuana River and we appreciate the Trump administration’s dedicated effort to restore this river back to the vibrant resource it once was.”