On Earth Day, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin reportedly visited San Diego to confront the issue of sewage pollution from Mexico’s Tijuana River.
This ongoing problem has led to beach closures and serious health risks for local residents, including Navy SEAL trainees who have fallen ill from contaminated waters.
During his visit, Zeldin met with local and Mexican officials to discuss the urgent need for action regarding the contaminated flow from the Tijuana River into the United States.
He highlighted that raw sewage has been crossing the border for decades, raising significant public health and environmental concerns. “Americans are very concerned with beach closures and the degradation of the Tijuana River Valley,” he stated, emphasizing the necessity for collaboration to resolve this crisis.
Zeldin stressed that Mexico must take responsibility for the pollution, declaring, “They cannot view this as a U.S. problem just because their contamination reached U.S. soil.”
He called for Mexico to commit to cleaning up the contamination and completing infrastructure projects to prevent future sewage flows.
The EPA administrator also toured an international wastewater treatment plant and noted that Mexican officials have expressed a willingness to work with the U.S. to address the situation.
He welcomed the collaborative spirit of Mexican authorities and indicated that discussions with them would focus on developing a comprehensive solution.
In a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Zeldin’s meetings with Mexican counterparts to ensure that water entering the U.S. is clean and safe.
She reiterated President Trump’s commitment to maintaining clean air and water, aligning with efforts to protect environmental health along the border.
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