West
Border wall gap left open after Biden stopped construction frustrates agents: ‘It’s a beacon’
SAN DIEGO – Amid an ongoing crisis at the southern border and in one of the hottest spots for migrant crossings, there remains a massive gap in the border wall – through which Border Patrol agents say illegal immigrants know to pour through.
Along the border near Otay Mountain, California, about a mile and a half from the port of entry in Otay Mesa, there remains an enormous gap in the double wall structure.
The Trump administration set up or bolstered two barriers, one right along the U.S.-Mexico border to deter illegal immigrants from crossing into the United States. The second is an additional wall, surrounded by roads and lights so that Border Patrol can scoop up and detain any crossers who manage to climb over or through the first structure.
IMMIGRATION HAWKS DELIGHTED AT TRUMP PICK JD VANCE: ‘ONE HELL OF A CO-PILOT’
This image shows the gap in the southern border in the San Diego sector. (Fox News)
But the Biden administration stopped the wall construction after entering office in 2021. While it has committed to completing some projects already funded by Congress, including repairing some gaps in the wall, this project in San Diego has remained incomplete.
“It has a very significant impact on operations because it’s an open area where migrants can walk right into the United States unimpeded and when there’s an influx of migrants, they just use that instead of climbing the fence and just walk in that open area,” Manuel Bayon, president of the National Border Patrol Council in San Diego, told Fox News Digital in an interview.
Bayon described the gap as “frustrating” for agents.
The Trump administration built a wall, along with roads and lighting, throughout the border area. (Fox News)
“It was almost completed. You’re looking at possibly approximately two football fields. It’s just an open gap. It’s a beacon that here you’re allowed to cross into the United States,” he said.
In a statement, CBP said it “utilizes a multi-layered enforcement strategy where multiple facets complement each other to enhance border security.
“This includes technology, personnel and tactical infrastructure as well as a whole-of-government approach that utilizes our partner agencies as well as relationships forged with foreign governments,” a spokesperson said. “This particular location is included in the Border Patrol’s infrastructure priority list. We have been working to address this list over the past several years and are continuing to do work to do so.”
CBP has separately pointed to lower border numbers in recent months, including in San Diego Sector, with stats showing that encounters by Border Patrol are 29% lower than in May. The agency also says it is enforcing consequences against those entering illegally and on smugglers, with consequences including removal and a five year bar to entry.
“No one should believe the lies of smugglers. The fact remains: the United States continues to enforce immigration law, and those without a legal basis to remain will be removed,” CBP said.
The gap in the border wall represents the stark contrast between the policies of the prior Trump administration and the Biden administration. The Trump administration focused on increased interior enforcement and border wall construction.
This image shows the border wall separating Mexico from the U.S. in the San Diego Sector. (Fox News)
The Biden administration rolled back many of those measures, calling them ineffective. Instead, it has called for fundamental immigration reform and additional funding, while also emphasizing the importance of “root causes” of migration.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS
It has accused Republicans of failing to act for political purposes, including on a recent bipartisan Senate package. Republicans though, along with others including the Border Patrol union, have accused the Biden administration of fueling the crisis with its policies and have pointed to the record numbers of migrant encounters since the president took office.
The administration has taken action, including a recent executive order designed to limit entries at the southern border when numbers are high. The White House said this week that since the order was announced, encounters overall have decreased by more than 50%, and the number of releases has decreased by 70%. Officials also say the administration has removed and returned more than 50,000 individuals to more than 100 countries.
“While the president’s action has led to significant results, it is clear that the only lasting solution to the challenges we are seeing on our border – the solution that would deliver additional authorities, resources, and personnel that we need to secure our border – is through congressional action,” an official said.
Bayon, however, stressed that the union does not support the Biden administration due to what he said was a lack of enforcement, and also downplayed the importance of the executive order.
“It’s a Band-Aid on an open wound,” he said.
Read the full article from Here
SEATTLE — Seattle police are investigating a shooting that left a 17-year-old boy injured early Thursday morning in the High Point neighborhood.
At about 12:48 a.m., dispatchers received multiple reports of rapid gunfire near Sylvan Way Southwest and Southwest Morgan Street.
Officers arrived and found a 17-year-old boy suffering from a gunshot wound to the hip area. Medics transported the teen to Harborview Medical Center in serious but stable condition.
Before officers located the victim, they found a car that had crashed and become disabled near Sylvan Way Southwest and Delridge Way Southwest. Police said multiple suspects were seen running from the vehicle through a nearby Home Depot parking lot.
Officers cordoned off the area and searched for the suspects with assistance from the K-9 Unit, but were unable to locate them. Police recovered the vehicle and impounded it for processing.
During the incident, gunfire struck at least three vehicles and two buildings. No other injuries were reported.
Officers processed multiple nearby scenes and recovered evidence before clearing the area. Detectives with the Gun Violence Reduction Unit will lead the investigation.
Here is some of the dining news from across San Diego County, as well as some upcoming events for foodies.
Cala café opens in La Jolla: From 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Amy de Leon will host the grand opening of her new restaurant Cala La Jolla Café in La Jolla’s historic Arcade building. Cala will offer what she calls an “omakase” coffee and matcha experience, breakfast and lunch menus and fresh-made pastries. De Leon, a real estate agent, also owns a coffee shop on the UC San Diego campus. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. 7910 Girard Ave., La Jolla. 858-333-8610, calalajolla.com.
Board & Brew opens in Midway District: This sandwich-and-draft beer quick-service restaurant chain has opened a new location near the USS Midway Museum. Founded in 1979, the company now dozens of locations in California, Arizona and Texas. Shop hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. 825 N. Harbor St., Suite 109, San Diego. boardandbrew.com.
Vincenzo debuts pasta program: Vicenzo Cucina & Lounge in Little Italy has introduced an in-house pasta program powered by its new artisan pasta-making machine that guests can see churning out different varieties of pasta in the restaurants’ front window. The handmade pasta wil be served with lunch and dinner entrées. 550 W. Date St., Suite A, San Diego. vincenzosd.com
Urban Plates new summer menu: Urban Plates, with 22 locations statewide including Carlsbad, Del Mar and La Jolla, has unveiled new drinks and dishes this month for its summer menu. New dishes include a BBQ jalapeño cheesebuger, Southwest grilled chicken salad and a superfood grilled chicken salad. There’s also a new lineup of refreshing fruit-based “cooloer” drinks priced at $4.50. They include strawberry basil lemonade, pineapple coconut lime, organic lemonade and dragon fruit and strawberry. urbanplates.com
Del Mar festival lineup announced: This year’s Del Mar Wine & Food Festival, returning with seven events Sept. 30 through Oct. 3, has unveiled some of the culinary headliners who will be cooking at the event. They are Michelin-starred chef Drew Deckman; cookbook author and TV food show judge Aarti Sequeira; Camelback Mountain executive chef Beau MacMillan; “Top Chef” victor and now chef/co-owner of Huson in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, Buddha Lo; cookbook author and Weelicious.com media platform founder Catherine McCord; L.A.-based chef Jackson Kalb; Pei Wei culinary executive, Food Network host and contestant and cookbook author Jet Tila; Clutch Chicken restaurang group founder and TV cooking show contestant Kelsey Murphy; chef, author TV personality and Morph Hospitality Group co-founder Maneet Chauhan; and James Beard-nominated chef of the Colorado restaurant Mawa’s Kitchen, Mawa McQueen. Tickets are now on sale at delmar.wine
Lion’s Share + Animae family-style collab: On July 9, two downtown restaurants will collaborate on ANIMAENIACS, a family-style dinner for parties of six. The Lion’s Share chef Dante Romero and Animae chef Tara Monsod will create a multicourse meal that draws on Romero’s Mexican heritage and Monsod’s Filipino heritage. The all-inclusive meal will include three beverages per person including cocktails, beer or non-alcoholic, and an after-party. Seatings are available at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. July 9. $1,080 for a party of six. The Lion’s Share, 629 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. Reservations at exploretock.com/the-lions-share-san-diego.
Tiki Oasis returns: The annual Tiki Oasis convention, which takes place each summer at the Town & Country Resort in Mission Valley, has announced its 2026 dates and theme. This year’s 26th convention, titled “Psychadelic Tiki,” will run Aug. 5-9. This year’s convention will include an art exhibition, more than 40 seminars, a 150-vendor marketplace, live entertainment and more. There will also be a sunset luau dinner at The Catamaran Resort. Details at tikioasis.com.
Pam Kragen, Union-Tribune
(Soldotna) – To allow anglers additional harvest opportunity of Kasilof River sockeye salmon, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is increasing the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon, 16 inches or greater in length, to six fish per day and twelve fish in possession; however, no more than two salmon per day and two in possession may be coho salmon, in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing. These provisions are effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 26 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2026.
The biological escapement goal on the Kasilof River is 140,000-320,000 sockeye salmon. Through June 23, a total of 117,665 sockeye salmon have passed the Kasilof River sonar site. The current escapement of sockeye salmon into the Kasilof River is proceeding at a rate that is projected to exceed the biological escapement goal.
In addition to increasing the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon, ADF&G issued emergency order 2-RS-1-32-26 expanding the area open to the personal use dip net fishery on the Kasilof River.
For additional information, please contact the Soldotna ADF&G office at (907) 262-9368.
-
Seattle, WA28 seconds ago17-year-old boy shot in High Point, multiple suspects seen running from crashed car
-
San Diego, CA3 minutes agoFoodie forecast: A new cafe opens in La Jolla’s Arcade building
-
Milwaukee, WI8 minutes agoPreparing for move, museum has already packed more than 600,000 items
-
Atlanta, GA15 minutes agoFallen tree damages cars, blocks I-285 WB in Fulton County
-
Minneapolis, MN18 minutes agoMN weather: Pleasant Thursday before major heat arrives
-
Indianapolis, IN23 minutes agoHogsett’s former chief of staff quickly took job at major city contractor
-
Pittsburg, PA30 minutes agoStrong storms with a possible tornado threat expected on Thursday in Pittsburgh
-
Augusta, GA33 minutes agoOrganizations partner to bring water to Augusta’s unhoused community
