Border Wall Efforts Intensify in San Diego County Amid New Administration Initiatives
The longstanding border wall system in San Diego County, initially strengthened in the 1990s, has experienced significant developments in recent years. With President Donald Trump’s first term seeing an influx of replacement fencing, some gaps in the wall remain, entangled in legal and environmental considerations.
Current projects aimed at closing these gaps, initiated during the Biden administration, are set to advance under Trump’s second term. Installation of panels is scheduled to commence next month at a specific San Diego border canyon site.
Parallel efforts to establish new barriers are underway in Texas, as declared by the Department of Homeland Security over the weekend. Recent months have seen a transformation at the San Diego-Tijuana border, with U.S. troops deploying concertina wire and Mexican National Guard troops patrolling critical crossing routes. These measures have contributed to a notable decrease in Border Patrol apprehensions in the San Diego sector.
Last month’s data from Customs and Border Protection indicated 1,650 migrant encounters, marking a 74% drop since January and a 95% decline from February of the previous year. By contrast, January 2025 saw about 1,700 encounters weekly, according to Border Patrol data shared on X.
“There is a sense of more tranquility on the border,” remarked Gen. Laureano Carrillo, head of the Baja California Civil Security Secretariat, commending the collaboration with both U.S. and Mexican authorities.
Expansion of Border Fencing
Trump’s renewed focus on border wall completion aligns with his declaration of a national emergency at the southern border. The directive mandates the Department of Homeland Security to deploy and construct physical barriers for full operational control.
San Diego County is among the areas slated for new construction, following legal challenges that stalled Biden administration efforts. The Southern District of Texas case questioned the allocation of 2020-21 funds, intended for new walls but used for repairs. Trump’s administration has now gained approval to proceed.
DHS has identified 19 projects across the southwest border, including three in San Diego County. These involve sections near Jacumba Hot Springs and Smuggler’s Gulch. Construction, addressing environmental challenges like erosion, is expected to start soon.
Advocacy groups, concerned about environmental impacts, have appealed to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court to maintain mitigation efforts. The Southern Border Communities Coalition and the Sierra Club, supported by the ACLU, have filed appeals to defend settlements for ecological preservation.
SBCC director Lilian Serrano emphasized the potential harm to wildlife and communities, stating, “The border wall has never worked to stop migration. All it does is push migrants to take much more dangerous routes.”
New funding from 2018 was utilized to resume construction on Trump’s second term’s first day, closing a gap and replacing deteriorating fencing in the area around Friendship Park.
Military Involvement Along the Border
In eastern Tijuana’s Nido de las Águilas neighborhood, Mexican National Guard troops monitor a significant gap, part of broader security measures agreed upon with the U.S. to delay import tariffs.
In Tecate’s challenging terrain, Mexican soldiers maintain checkpoints on the Mexicali-Tijuana highway, aiming to thwart drug and human smuggling. Recent efforts led to the arrest of three individuals with significant amounts of fentanyl and heroin.
U.S. Marines from Task Force Sapper are reinforcing the border, installing concertina wire along key stretches. Lt. Col. Tyrone Barrion stated the Marines’ primary focus is on reinforcement, with migrant encounters managed by the Border Patrol.
As of last week, there was only one recorded incident involving a barrier crossing attempt, highlighting the effectiveness of the current military presence.
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