It Could Happen Here New Wall Construction and Borderlands Resistance
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Oct 23, 2025 James talks with Erick Meza, the Borderlands coordinator for the Sierra Club, about the alarming plans for new border walls in San Diego. They explore the devastating effects on sacred Kumeyaay sites and wildlife habitats. Erick outlines the staggering $46.5 billion allocated for construction and highlights how double barriers are forcing migrants into perilous remote areas. Community resistance efforts are discussed, alongside the need for grassroots engagement and shifting negative media narratives to protect these ecosystems.
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New Wall Threatens Otay Mountain Wilderness
- The Border Patrol proposes ~9.7 miles of new barrier and 51+ miles of related infrastructure near Otay Mountain and Tecate Peak.
- Construction will fragment habitat, block wildlife corridors, and risk long-term damage to rare species and sacred Indigenous sites.
Construction Spurs Long-Term Ecological Harm
- Heavy machinery, blasting, wells for concrete, and widened access roads will increase invasive plants, flooding, and vegetation loss.
- Disturbing native soils and water sources creates long-lasting ecological harm that may be irreversible for some species.
Walls Sever Wildlife Migration Corridors
- Physical walls block animal movement so most mammals cannot pass established migration routes.
- The barrier will sever access to critical water sources and migration corridors, increasing wildlife mortality and stress.