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President Donald Trump On Wednesday called on Mexico to address the millions of gallons of raw and untreated sewage that flow into the United States, posing a health threat to nearby communities, officials said.
“Mexico must take care of its water and sanitation problems IMMEDIATELY. This is a real threat to the people of Texas, California and the United States of America!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
For years, sewage from border cities like Tijuana has leaked into the United States through the Tijuana River, and local leaders have called the problem a health crisis.
Officials said the wastewater is affecting tourism in the area, especially at local beaches, and at Naval Air Station Coronado, where Navy SEALs train.
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Aerial view of Tijuana, Mexico (top) and San Diego, California. President Donald Trump on Wednesday demanded that Mexico address untreated sewage that has been seeping into the United States for decades. (Getty Images)
The crisis is being blamed on Tijuana's aging wastewater infrastructure, which is under strain from the region's rapid population growth.
San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond called the incident one of the worst environmental and health crises in the country that no one is talking about.
“I'm glad to see the president finally addressing this decades-long crisis,” he told Fox News Digital. “It impacted our military readiness, jeopardized national security, and created an environmental disaster for Southern California—all while Mexico bore virtually no responsibility.”
“This has to change,” he added. “We need real enforcement, real consequences and real action to protect our communities.”
Sewage-contaminated runoff from the Tijuana River has prompted calls for authorities to address the problem. (Reuters/Mike Blake)
Fox News Digital reached out to the Mexican Embassy in Washington, DC.
In July Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Lee Zeldin and his Mexican counterpart, Mexico's Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will streamline both governments' efforts to address the crisis.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Zeldin said the Trump administration is taking action to stop the “flow of disgusting sewage” from Mexico into the US.
“We are working very closely with our Mexican counterparts to ensure San Diego area beaches are open, odors are stopped, and the Tijuana River Valley is cleaned up as quickly as possible,” he wrote. “It will also be beneficial for our Navy SEALs who train in the area.”
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin of New York speaks before Congress. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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“Nothing short of full implementation of the U.S.-Mexico Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2025 will be acceptable,” he added. “All projects on the Mexico side scheduled for completion in 2026 and 2027 are absolutely essential!”
The memorandum of understanding allocates millions of dollars for wastewater treatment projects and outlines additional initiatives for Mexico to prepare for further population growth. in Tijuana in the coming years.
Fox News Digital's Emma Colton contributed to this report.
