Rep. Vargas' Statement on Meeting with Secretary Mayorkas Regarding Friendship Park
Rep. Vargas' Statement on Meeting with Secretary Mayorkas Regarding Friendship Park
WASHINGTON, D.C (July 14, 2022) — Congressmember Vargas released the following statement after meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding the proposed border remediation projects in and around Friendship Park:
“Today, I had a productive discussion with Secretary Mayorkas regarding proposed border projects at Friendship Park in my district,” said Rep. Vargas. “I urged Secretary Mayorkas to pause all border remediation projects in and around Friendship Park and asked him to work with stakeholder groups moving forward. Friendship Park means a great deal to me, my constituents, and communities in our binational region. Since its inauguration in 1971, Friendship Park has been a testament to the U.S.-Mexico relationship and has allowed families to come together. While the current proposed projects do not include pedestrian gates, barring public access to the park, Secretary Mayorkas assured me that Friendship Park is at the top of his priorities and expressed his intent to keep the gates at Friendship Park. I remain committed to advocating on this crucial issue to ensure Friendship Park stays open and continues to serve communities on both sides of the border.”
Rep. Vargas previously wrote to Secretary Mayorkas regarding these border wall remediation projects on July 8.
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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.