Sheehy Demands Mexican President Stop the Toxic Tide of Waste Flowing from Mexico to United States

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R – Mont.) sent a letter to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum demanding her government take immediate action to stop the flow of toxic, raw sewage flowing over the Mexican border into waters where United States servicemen train.

Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons of raw sewage, trash, and stormwater has flowed from Tijuana to San Diego, sickening thousands of Americans including Navy SEALs and Marine special forces who train in the affected waters.

“For decades, Mexico has been dumping toxic waste into the water where our most elite servicemen train, causing serious health issues and harming our readiness. The problem is only getting worse, and Mexico’s failure to do anything about it is harming our troops and our national security. Mexico needs to put a stop to this toxic tide immediately,” said Senator Sheehy.

View Senator Sheehy’s letter to President Sheinbaum HERE, or read the full text below:

Dear President Sheinbaum,

I am writing to demand that Mexico immediately stop dumping millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Pacific Ocean every single day. For decades, this toxic tide has been flowing across the border and into the waters where our Navy SEALs train, dating back to my own time as a SEAL. It is sickening our troops and directly harming America’s military readiness.

As you know, Tijuana has experienced a significant population surge—largely driven by illegal migration toward the United States—and as a result, the city’s aging wastewater system has been overwhelmed. In fact, since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons of raw sewage, trash, and stormwater has flowed from Tijuana to San Diego.

This continuous discharge is sickening thousands of Americans annually, including U.S. Navy SEALs and Marine special forces who train in the affected waters. In February 2025, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General concluded that, absent action, Navy Special Warfare Command would be advised to cancel or relocate up to 75 percent of water training exercises at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado due to elevated bacterial contamination levels. This poses an unacceptable choice between preserving the health of our service members and maintaining essential military readiness—both of which are critical to our national security.

As part of the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Congress authorized $300 million for the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to address this ongoing crisis. However, during the engineering and planning process, it was determined that the treatment plant would require significant remediation before the planned expansion could move forward. Since then, Congress has appropriated more than $300 million in additional funding to complete upgrades at the facility. America is doing its part. It is time for Mexico to do the same.

It is in the interest of both Mexico and the United States to have strong national security ties so we can continue to be regional partners in combating transnational crime. I appreciate your attention to this urgent matter and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Tim Sheehy

U.S. Senator

Background:
Senator Sheehy is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy class of 2008 with a B.S. in History, Sheehy completed several deployments and hundreds of missions as a U.S. Navy SEAL Officer and Team Leader, deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, and the Pacific region.

Senator Sheehy was honored to serve alongside many American heroes and was involved in dozens of engagements with enemy forces, earning him multiple combat decorations including the Bronze Star with Valor for Heroism in Combat and the Purple Heart Medal. Additionally, Senator Sheehy completed a joint tour with Army Special Operations forces where he was privileged to complete U.S. Army Ranger School and serve alongside the 5th Special Forces Group, 75th Ranger Regiment, and other units within U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

Senator Sheehy completed his active-duty service as a mini submarine pilot and navigator specializing in sensitive undersea operations. After active-duty service, Sheehy fulfilled reserve duty as a recruiter and assessor for future naval officers and was honorably discharged from the Naval Reserve in 2019.