Merced Times

On Thursday, Congressman John Duarte (CA-13) toured the Otay Mesa and San Ysidro Ports of Entry in Southern California along the U.S.-Mexico border with Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers.

During the visit, Chief CBP Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel from the U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector briefed Congressman Duarte on replacement projects within the border infrastructure system, including barriers, border roads, and advanced technologies.

“America is a nation of immigrants, and Our Valley represents that strength. However, we are a nation of laws, and our immigration system is broken. We are dealing with a crisis at the border that demands solutions,” said Congressman Duarte. “I was proud to tour the Otay Mesa and San Ysidro facilities and learn firsthand from our brave CBP officers about the challenges they face on the ground in securing our borders and combating drug trafficking.”

The officers discussed with Congressman Duarte the current challenges they face in securing borders and combating drug trafficking. Additionally, he learned how Congress can best support these challenges at the ports of entry and along the border.

The Otay Mesa Port of Entry is the busiest commercial port in California, serving many Central Valley residents. Congressman Duarte toured the progress of the $134 million modernization and expansion project approved in 2024 that will mitigate logistical issues and benefit Central Valley farmers and residents.

The San Ysidro Port of Entry is the busiest border crossing in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth busiest globally. Along with legal trade and lawful entries, there has been a significant increase in illegal border crossings, fugitive arrests, and fentanyl seizures. Congressman Duarte continues to advocate for more funding to combat the opioid epidemic by supporting communities through financial and judicial measures to remove drug traffickers from streets and provide help for drug addicts.