Another Border Crisis: Why California’s Popular Surfing Beach is Shut Down

“It’s a ticking time bomb. I am extremely concerned that people may begin to perish because of this,” says Paloma Aguirre, mayor of Imperial Beach. San Diego County has declared a state of emergency over the Tijuana River sewage crisis. Unhealthy conditions are driving tourists and businesses away from Imperial Beach, a coastal city located at the southernmost tip of San Diego County, right on the U.S.–Mexico border. Once renowned for its world-class surfing and as the home of the Ironman triathlon, the city now faces significant environmental challenges.