Rep. Vargas' Statement on Temporary Pause to Border Remediation Projects at Friendship Park
Rep. Vargas' Statement on Temporary Pause to Border Remediation Projects at Friendship Park
San Diego, Calif. (August 4, 2022) — Congressmember Vargas released the following statement after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a temporary pause on the border wall remediation projects in and around Friendship Park:
“I am pleased that CBP has listened to my concerns and is pausing the border remediation projects in and around Friendship Park,” said Rep. Vargas. “Since its inauguration in 1971, Friendship Park has been a testament to the U.S.-Mexico relationship and has allowed families to come together. The proposed projects would bar public access to Friendship Park, preventing it from serving communities on both sides of the border. This is a welcome step in the right direction, and I urge CBP to work with federal, state, and local governments and community stakeholders as they move forward in preserving access to Friendship Park. I remain committed to advocating for this critical issue to protect Friendship Park’s history and legacy for our binational region.”
Rep. Vargas previously wrote to Secretary Mayorkas regarding these border wall remediation projects on July 8 and July 27.
###
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.