Trump Presses Mexico on Sewage Crisis Affecting U.S. Communities

President Donald Trump reached out to Mexico on Wednesday, urging action against the significant untreated sewage flowing into the United States. Officials have highlighted this as a potential health risk for nearby communities.

Trump underscored the urgency of the situation on Truth Social, stating, “Mexico must address its water and wastewater issues immediately. This is a real threat to the people of Texas, California, and the United States!”

The issue isn’t new. For years, untreated sewage from cities like Tijuana has polluted the U.S. through the Tijuana River, and local officials have dubbed this a pressing health crisis.

Concerns have been raised that this sewage problem impacts tourism, notably around the beaches and the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, which serves as a training area for Navy SEALs.

Supervisor Jim Desmond from San Diego County described it as one of the worst environmental and public health dilemmas in the nation—one that, he feels, isn’t receiving adequate attention.

He remarked, “I’m glad to see the president finally addressing this decades-long crisis. It threatens our military readiness, poses national security concerns, and creates an environmental disaster in Southern California, all while Mexico has taken little responsibility.” Desmond emphasized the need for “real enforcement, real consequences, and real action to protect our communities.”

The root of the issue lies in Tijuana’s outdated sewage system, which is overwhelmed by the city’s rapid population growth.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Mexican embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment on the situation.

In July, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Mexico’s Environment Secretary Alicia Bárcena Ibarra signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two nations to tackle this crisis.

On Wednesday, Zeldin stated that efforts are being made to curb the “nasty flow of raw sewage” from Mexico to the U.S. He expressed that work is ongoing to ensure that beaches in the San Diego area can reopen and that the Tijuana River Valley is cleaned up quickly. This initiative, he noted, would also benefit Navy SEAL training in the area.

Zeldin insisted that full implementation of the July 2025 memorandum is crucial, stressing the importance of completing all projects in Mexico aimed at improving wastewater management by 2026 and 2027. The memorandum allocates significant funding for these initiatives to prepare for Tijuana’s expected population growth in the years to come.