EPA’s Zeldin Slams Mexico for Sewage Flooding Tijuana River into U.S.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has accused Mexico of dumping massive sewage into the Tijuana River letting it spill across the border into American soil. The crisis has fouled California beaches and sparked health alerts for residents near San Diego. Zeldin’s warning underscores a failure to curb cross-border pollution threatening U.S. communities.

The Tijuana River has long been a conduit for untreated waste from Mexico’s overburdened systems flowing north into the Pacific. Zeldin reported that 100 million gallons of raw sewage hit the U.S. in 2024 alone worsening an already dire situation. He blasted Mexico for shirking responsibility while American taxpayers foot the cleanup bill.

San Diego County officials declared repeated beach closures as bacteria levels soared beyond safe limits. Families and businesses near Imperial Beach suffer most with foul odors and toxic water driving tourists away. Zeldin called it an environmental disaster demanding immediate action from both nations.

Mexico’s government has pledged upgrades to its sewage infrastructure but progress lags far behind promises. Cross-border talks have yielded little as millions of gallons keep pouring into U.S. territory yearly. Zeldin hinted at pushing Trump to press Mexico harder possibly with trade leverage.

The EPA under Zeldin has prioritized enforcement vowing to hold foreign polluters accountable for harming American land and water. Local leaders praise his tough stance but worry about federal funds drying up for containment efforts. The sewage surge exposes cracks in diplomatic efforts to manage shared borders.

Health risks from the contamination include hepatitis and E. coli outbreaks linked to the river’s toxic flow. Cleanup costs have topped 300 million dollars over decades with no end in sight absent Mexico’s cooperation. Zeldin’s rebuke aims to jolt stalled talks into gear before worse damage hits.

California lawmakers have begged for more federal aid as the crisis cripples coastal economies and ecosystems. Zeldin countered that Mexico must pay its fair share instead of leaning on U.S. generosity. His stance aligns with a broader push to protect national interests from foreign negligence.

Residents demand solutions as the stench and sludge invade their daily lives with no relief in sight. Zeldin’s warning puts Mexico on notice that the U.S. won’t tolerate this assault much longer. The Tijuana River mess now tests Trump’s border security focus in a gritty new way.