Rep. Vargas Leads Letter Urging Secretary Mayorkas to Halt All Border Remediation Projects at Friendship Park
Rep. Vargas Leads Letter Urging Secretary Mayorkas to Halt All Border Remediation Projects at Friendship Park
San Diego, Calif. (July 27, 2022) — Yesterday, Congressmember Vargas led 15 members of Congress in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding his commitment to ensure the safety, security, and accessibility of Friendship Park in California’s 51st Congressional District.
In May 2022, the Department of Homeland Security announced that border remediation projects at Friendship Park would include the continuation of the 30-foot-bollard-style Trump wall and remove the pedestrian gates, effectively barring public access for good. On Thursday, July 14, Secretary Mayorkas met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to express his commitment to preserve Friendship Park’s storied history and assure Rep. Vargas that the pedestrian gates would remain open for families on both sides of the border. The most recent plans for the remediation projects include moving the pedestrian gate 200 feet east of its current location inside Friendship Park and would not be publicly accessible.
“I’m disappointed that after a productive discussion with Secretary Mayorkas regarding the preservation of Friendship Park, the border remediation project has still not addressed my original concerns of keeping the pedestrian gate open,” said Rep. Vargas. “Friendship Park means a great deal to me, my constituents, and communities in our binational region. The plans to move the pedestrian gate 200 feet east and close public access conflict with the commitment Secretary Mayorkas made to ensure safety, security, and accessibility of Friendship Park, destroying the park’s intent to foster community between the United States and Mexico. I strongly urge Secretary Mayorkas to delay any remediation projects at Friendship Park until this information is investigated and congressional offices, stakeholder groups, and community members are full briefed.”
“For decades, Friendship Park has been much more than a marker between San Diego and Tijuana,” said Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52). “The park has provided opportunities for many families to gather and cherish time together. During a time of so much division, we should be growing Friendship Park rather than tearing it down. I look forward to working with the Biden Administration, Border Patrol, and community leaders to maintain our national security without harming the environment near the park or the families who hold this meeting point close to their hearts.”
“San Diegans know firsthand the value of Friendship Park – both as a place for separated families to be together again and as a symbol of our vibrant, binational community,” said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. “I’m glad to be working with Congressman Vargas to protect the park that means so much to so many of us and to restore public access. We hope Secretary Mayorkas will honor his commitment to do just that.”
“As Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I join fellow Members in emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety, security, and accessibility of Friendship Park in California’s 51st Congressional District,” said CHC Chair Ruiz. “We look forward to a process that involves community stakeholder input as well as a site-specific design that enhances the original intent of this location—friendship and community.”
“Friendship Park has been a cherished meeting place for families on both sides of the border since it was inaugurated by former First Lady Pat Nixon in 1971, and we must preserve it for future generations,” said Rep. Levin. “I am deeply troubled by the planned border remediation project that would effectively end public access to the park and eliminate a historic community space. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas should delay the project and consider the harmful effect that removing public access would have on families throughout the region before proceeding.”
Co-signers include: Reps. Raul Ruiz (CA-36), Sara Jacobs (CA-53), Scott H. Peters (CA-52), Mike Levin (CA-49), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Albio Sires (NJ-8), Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Linda T. Sanchez (CA-38), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-3), John Garamendi (CA-3), James P. McGovern (MA-2), and Barbara Lee (CA-13).
The full letter can be found below:
Dear Secretary Mayorkas,
Thank you for joining the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) member meeting on July 14, 2022. It was encouraging to hear directly from you regarding this Administration’s policies along our southern border. It was particularly promising to hear you speak on your commitment to ensuring the security, safety, and accessibility of Friendship Park, located in San Diego, California.
As you know, Friendship Park was inaugurated by former First Lady Pat Nixon in 1971 to foster friendship and goodwill between Mexico and the United States. The park has cultivated a community between two nations and has allowed families and friends across the border to visit with one another. This park has served both sides of the border for generations and, as testament to its significance, last year Friendship Park celebrated its 50th anniversary. Another park with a similar vision, Peace Arch Park, on the U.S.-Canada border, also acts as a gathering place for separated families. In stark contrast to Friendship Park, however, Peace Arch Park is open every day and has open grassy areas with picnic tables where families can set up lawn chairs and tents. Families spend much-needed time together at Peace Arch Park with no wall or fenced separation.
Unfortunately, we were initially informed that the remediation project at Friendship Park includes the continuation of the 30-foot bollard-style Trump wall that does not include a pedestrian gate, on either the primary or secondary replacement barriers, effectively permanently closing access to the public. This would have a significant impact on safety, life, and the environment. It is our concern, and that of our constituents, that this new replacement wall will destroy the intent of this binational park. We would like to point out, that one of the great assets of Friendship Park is the Binational Garden which is home to unique native plants. Construction of the proposed wall could destroy this beautiful garden on both sides of the border.
During the CHC meeting, it was heartening to hear you acknowledge Friendship Park’s beautiful history and your commitment to preserving it. You stated that the remediation project would “not compromise the integrity of the gates that have benefited people accessing Friendship Park” and that your plan “does not speak of closing access but maintaining it.” We are hopeful that, with your leadership, public access to Friendship Park and the gates, can be restored. It would be powerful if families could once again have an opportunity to spend much-needed time together, as families enjoy at Peace Arch Park.
However, we would like to bring to your attention critical information that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently provided to Congressional staff. On Tuesday, July 19, 2022, CBP officials met with a delegation of Congressional and Senate staff from the San Diego border region. During this meeting, CBP informed the offices that the remediation project would result in moving the pedestrian access gate “slightly east” on the secondary fence and relocating the access gate on the primary fence 200 feet east of its present location at Friendship Park. Furthermore, CBP officials informed us that the future gate on the primary fence will exclusively be for monument access by the International Boundary and Water Commission. We find this news particularly alarming and in conflict with the commitment you made to the CHC to ensure the security, safety, and accessibility of Friendship Park. Again, by moving these gates from their present location east of Friendship Park, CBP is deliberately creating an obstacle, cutting off access to the public, and destroying the intent of this binational garden and park. We urgently request that you immediately investigate this new information and delay any remediation projects at Friendship Park until our offices can be fully briefed on this new information.
Again, any remediation projects at Friendship Park that would increase the wall height, affect public access by moving the gates, or diminish the original intent of this location is unacceptable to us. We urge you to involve community stakeholders to generate a comprehensive and site-specific design that will enable Friendship Park to continue serving this binational region as intended. We look forward to hearing back from you in writing regarding your plans for Friendship Park, addressing both our concerns and hopes expressed in this letter. Please give our request full and fair consideration in compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and laws.
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Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire U.S.-Mexico border. Vargas was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and is currently serving his fifth term in Congress. He serves on the House Financial Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee.