Border wall expansion near Tecate Peak impacts sacred lands

Construction crews are using dynamite and bulldozers to expand the U.S. border wall near Tecate Peak, east of San Diego. The expansion involves blasting through granite and chaparral in the high desert region.

This infrastructure project aims to deter undocumented migrants and drug traffickers. However, the wall may disrupt sacred native rituals and the migration patterns of endangered wildlife unique to this desert landscape.

Data from the U.S. Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector indicates a significant decline in undocumented crossings in the region. Between October and November of 2025, the sector recorded 1,793 apprehensions, representing a 93% decrease compared to the 24,734 apprehensions recorded during the same period in 2026.