Trump Administration plans to build new barriers along San Diego-Mexico border
SAN DIEGO (NBC, KYMA) - The Trump Administration is planning to build close to ten miles of new barriers along the San Diego-Mexico border.
Immigration advocates say the multi-billion dollar project would divert migration flows into more dangerous areas.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says they plan to build and maintain nearly ten miles of primary border barrier. This would consist of 30-foot-high, six-inch squared diameter steel bollards, with anti-climb features.
The largest barrier would be located west of the Tecate Port of Entry and would be nearly eight miles.
East of Tecate, they plan to build a little more than one mile of the new barrier.
The third one would be east of Otay Mesa Port of Entry. That one would be a little over three miles.
Immigration advocates, like Pedro Rios with American Friends Service Committee, opposes the plan claiming this would divert migration flows into more dangerous areas.
"Border walls just simply don't work. They're not a useful way of deterring migration. They just complicate the crossing and add to how people are affected, are harmed, die as a result of border walls, and it's not a solution," Rios expressed.
CBP also plans to add nearly 52 miles of improved infrastructure along existing barriers, including surveillance cameras, access patrol roads, artificial lights, and other features.
Last month, through a federal register notice, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a waiver of environmental laws that would cover this project, but Rios also worries about the effects moving forward with the project could have on the environment.
"It's dangerous to the fauna and the flora. It's dangerous to the migratory animals that live in the areas," Rios shared.
However, CBP says they will be carrying out biological and cultural surveys with tribes, federal, state, and local agencies to gather information about the potential impacts associated to the project.
NBC News reached out to CBP for comment and is awaiting a response.
