Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey made a significant visit to Imperial Beach on Thursday to address the pressing issue of Tijuana River sewage pollution that has been affecting the local community.
Booker, responding to an invitation from Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, was joined by Congressman Juan Vargas from San Diego for a firsthand look at the environmental crisis.
Despite not having current committee assignments directly related to the Tijuana River situation, Booker’s presence has highlighted the urgent need for federal intervention.
“No one should be forced to breathe toxic air and swim in sewage,” Booker stated during his visit.
He emphasized, “What I saw and smelled today in South San Diego County is unconscionable. It would never be tolerated in Malibu or Mar-a-Lago, and it shouldn’t be tolerated here.”
Booker characterized the situation as an environmental justice crisis and praised Mayor Aguirre for her relentless leadership in drawing national attention to the community’s struggles.
“I’m taking what I saw here back to Washington to help ensure that this community’s fight for clean air and water is heard and addressed,” he added.
Aguirre, who previously worked as an environmental fellow in Booker’s Washington office, expressed her gratitude for the senator’s visit during his California trip.
“I fought tooth and nail to get this funding through Congress and fix a broken plant that was making people sick and closing our beaches,” Aguirre noted.
She reported that construction efforts are finally moving forward urgently, citing progress as evidence of effective advocacy by South County residents.
“Today’s progress shows that when South County speaks up and pushes hard, we get things done. Our relentless fight is showing results, but we need a 100% solution — because South County families shouldn’t have to live with this toxic sewage nightmare any longer,” Aguirre stated.
Congressman Vargas also addressed the urgent matter at a news conference, underscoring the widespread implications of the pollution.
“The pollution in the Tijuana River isn’t just harming our environment — it’s threatening our neighbors’ health, shutting down businesses, and closing beaches,” Vargas said.
He stressed that addressing this crisis transcends party lines, framing it as a fundamental issue of human rights and community safety.
The senator’s visit followed the release of a University of California, San Diego study, which revealed alarming findings about the presence of hazardous chemical compounds in the water of the Tijuana River and off the coast of Imperial Beach.
The research indicated that these pollutants are aerosolized by ocean spray, affecting air quality in the surrounding area.
Lead author Adam Cooper collected samples from various coastal locations, including the U.S.-Mexico border, Imperial Beach, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla.
“The Tijuana River region is a very dynamic environment with implications for public health, environmental policy, and international relations between the United States and Mexico,” Cooper stated.
He described the study as one of the most comprehensive investigations into the water-to-air transfer of pollutants to date.
Covering a 120-mile trajectory from Baja California into the United States, the Tijuana River discharges millions of gallons of wastewater, including sewage and runoff, into the Pacific Ocean each day.
The resulting aerosolized pollutants are linked to various health issues among local residents, including respiratory illnesses and headaches.
Many beaches in San Diego have experienced prolonged closures due to high levels of bacteria linked to wastewater runoff.
Aguirre expressed her concern, stating that the study’s findings validated years of complaints from South County residents about the pollution.
“The study found methamphetamine, cocaine residue, tire chemicals, and toxic compounds from sunscreen floating through the air in South County — chemicals being inhaled by children, workers, and families every single day,” she said.
She highlighted the injustice of the situation, asserting that residents of South County deserve the same clean air and safe environment as any neighborhood in the country.
“We are not second-class communities. We are working people who deserve the same clean air and safe environment as every other neighborhood in this country,” Aguirre declared.
According to the study’s authors, there are actionable steps that policymakers can take to improve water and air standards in the affected area.
Cooper noted, “The solutions to the cross-border sewage crisis aren’t constrained by technical challenges; they’re constrained by political challenges and policy issues. We have to motivate decision-makers to make the right investments.”
In closing, the ongoing crisis at the Tijuana River highlights not only a local environmental issue but a broader call for justice and action from federal leaders.
image source from：https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/2025/05/30/sen-cory-booker-demands-federal-action-on-tijuana-river-pollution-crisis
