West
Vets group patching border fence pledges vigilance amid Trump success: 'There are still gaps'
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — A group of U.S. military veterans that formed to respond to the crisis at the southern border has continued its work, even as President Donald Trump has largely followed through on promises to stem the flow of illegal crossings.
“As a country, we were going quietly into the night,” Kate Monroe, a Marine Corps veteran who became the founder of Border Vets, a group of U.S. military veterans who have given their own time and money to patch up holes in the border barrier in Southern California, told Fox News Digital. “It’s not as difficult to secure the nation as people might think.”
The comments come as the group that Monroe founded, Border Vets, has continued its work to patch up potential weak points on the U.S. border with Mexico in Southern California.
On a rainy and uncharacteristically cold day in San Diego County, Monroe invited Fox News Digital to see the volunteer organization’s continuing work. A group of nearly a dozen U.S. military veterans tagged along for the ride, returning to the infamous “San Judas Break,” a gap in the border wall that at its height was allowing more than 3,000 illegal migrants to spill into the U.S. on a weekly basis.
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Border Vets members patched a hole in the barrier at the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego County, Calif., on March 10, 2025. (Michael Lee/Fox News Digital)
At issue is a gap in the barrier where the fencing erected by the U.S. government meets a hilly rock formation, leaving a tiny pathway into the country for thousands of migrants who knew where to look. While members of the Border Vets patched the hole with razor wire last year, the group returned to the spot to make improvements to the barrier and extend it further up the hill in an attempt to dissuade illegal crossings.
But things have changed at this spot since the Border Vets initially volunteered their own time and money to patch the hole, with illegal crossings now coming to a near standstill in the area since Trump took office in January.
The Mexican Army has also begun to occupy the area, standing up a makeshift encampment on the other side of the border just a couple of feet from where the Border Vets worked.
Border Vets members put up razor wire to patch a hole in the barrier at the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego County, Calif., on March 10, 2025. (Michael Lee/Fox News Digital)
The Mexican government’s cooperation and Trump’s reentry into the White House have had a profound impact on crossing numbers, with February data showing that just 8,300 people attempted to illegally cross the border last month, the lowest mark recorded since fiscal 2000.
Agents with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have also had far fewer encounters with illegal migrants compared to the same time period in 2023 and 2024, recording just 30,000 encounters in February 2025 compared to more than 130,000 during the same time period in 2023 and 2024.
Border Vets members put up razor wire to patch a hole in the barrier at the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego County, Calif., on March 10, 2025. (Michael Lee/Fox News Digital)
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Nevertheless, members of the Border Vets have continued their volunteer work, noting that some migrants have been determined enough to find a way through.
“Things are getting better down at the border,” one Marine veteran who volunteers for Border Vets told Fox News Digital, noting that there are still gaps, not only figuratively, but literal gaps in the border.
“You can see on the footpath that people are just walking through,” he added.
The group insists they have had little trouble with CBP agents patrolling the area, arguing that many have welcomed the assistance, especially during the height of illegal crossings seen in the previous few years. An agent who anonymously spoke to Fox News Digital on Tuesday struck a similar tone, noting that the agency does not stop the group from erecting the makeshift barriers.
In one area of San Diego County near Jacumba Hot Springs, a makeshift shelter built out of wood pallets and tarp, a site that once hosted hundreds of migrants as they waited to make asylum claims to border agents, stood empty.
A makeshift shelter that once housed migrants stands empty amid President Donald Trump’s border crackdown. (Michael Lee/Fox News Digital)
A makeshift shelter that once housed migrants stands empty amid President Donald Trump’s border crackdown. (Michael Lee/Fox News Digital)
In other areas of San Diego County’s border with Mexico on Tuesday, members checked on their patchwork barriers while noting the stark difference between now and just a few short months ago.
“It’s a crazy thing,” Monroe said. “There used to be hundreds of people crossing every time I came, now not one. And it’s not because of the rain, they were coming rain or shine … the difference has just been absolutely amazing.”
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Members of the Border Vets welcomed the change, though they plan to stay vigilant to prevent the situation from returning to the point of crisis it had reached over the last few years.
“An open border policy that we’ve dealt with for the last four years has been nothing but a detriment to the country,” a Navy veteran member of Border Vets told Fox News Digital. “We’re all struggling, we’re all being dealt a bad hand, and it just doesn’t send the right message to have our borders wide open when every other nation has closed-border policies.”
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Denver, CO
Denver area faces hazardous Wednesday morning commute as heavy, wet snow begins to fall
DENVER — A strong, late-season snowstorm has moved into northern Colorado and the Front Range Tuesday evening and will continue into Wednesday, making for a hazardous morning commute.
MORE | Denver7 weather blog
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning from midnight Tuesday through 3 p.m. Wednesday.
How much are we getting?
The NWS forecasts 5-8 inches of snow for the Interstate 25 corridor, while areas closer to the foothills could receive up to 9 inches.
For the Eastern Plains, forecasters expect 2-6 inches of snow, a lower total than in the Front Range.
The Northern Mountains and foothills could receive as much as 2 feet of snow, with Estes Park and surrounding areas seeing early accumulation Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Southern Mountains are forecasted to get 6-14 inches.
NWS
When will it get here?
In Denver, rain began to transition to snow around 5 p.m. And snow accumulation is expected to continue into Wednesday afternoon, according to the NWS.
Forecasters expect that from Tuesday at midnight to 9 a.m. Wednesday will see the brunt of this storm in the Denver metro area.
NWS
What are the biggest concerns?
That midnight-to-9 a.m. stretch of snowfall should have the biggest impact, according to the NWS.
Wet, heavy snowfall poses the greatest risk for broken branches and tree damage, especially in areas with the largest accumulations, which can cause scattered power outages.
Hazardous conditions, especially for the morning commute in the Denver metro area, are expected due to heavy snowfall. The Colorado Department of Transportation is prepared for these impacts.
CDOT said there will be about 100 plows throughout the storm, focusing on clearing interstates and major roadways first before secondary roads.
Tuesday evening forecast
When will it skidaddle out of here?
Snow accumulation should end north to south by midday Wednesday, with drier weather moving in Wednesday night into Thursday.
Denver will see a high of 39 degrees with a low dropping below freezing on Wednesday. A freeze warning is likely on Wednesday night.
Thursday, we may see a shower or two, but mild springlike conditions will return.
NWS
Weather Links
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Stream live, current temperatures plus radars across Colorado anytime for free on the free Denver7+ app on your TV or watch from your computer or mobile phone anytime.
Seattle, WA
Passan’s take on Seattle Mariners’ potential SP decision
The Seattle Mariners have been staring down a difficult decision for weeks now and it’s only getting closer as Bryce Miller nears the end of his rehab assignment.
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When Miller makes his return to the big league club, which is now less than two weeks away barring a setback, the Mariners will have six capable starters but only five rotation spots.
The assumption when Miller started the season on the injured list was that he would replace Emerson Hancock when he returned, but Hancock has been Seattle’s best starter thus far, posting a 2.59 ERA over seven starts while striking out batters at a career-best 28.9% clip.
Now it looks as if veteran Luis Castillo could be the top candidate to taken out of the rotation. In seven starts this season, the right-hander has produced a 6.29 ERA and minus-0.8 bWAR.
ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan weighed in on the possibility of Castillo being taken out of the starting rotation when he joined Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Tuesday.
“I think it all depends on where Luis Castillo’s frame of mind is,” Passan said. “If Luis Castillo is open to going to the bullpen, you consider that. And if he is not, then you take a look and see what his willingness to go on the injured list is. And if that’s not the case, then maybe you do consider a six-man rotation. I think there are just lots of different possibilities here.”
For Passan, what Castillo has done for the organization, which includes helping the team reach the playoffs twice, is also an important part of the equation.
“I think what also factors in is Luis Castillo has done this for a really long time at a really high level and been a really important part of the success that you’ve had organizationally, and I don’t take that lightly,” Passan said. “I think the way that you treat people who have done right by you and helped you get into the position (you’re in), they’re not disposable. So you can’t just say to Luis Castillo, you’re not performing right now, you’re going to the pen.
“Well, you could. I just don’t know how well that goes over and I don’t know what sort of precedent that sets for treatment of players going forward.”
Passan added that moving Castillo to the bullpen is the type of “cold” decision a contender has to make sometimes, but that having a productive Castillo is also key for the team.
“Having a productive Luis Castillo makes them much likelier to be a World Series team,” Passan said. “You can get rid of your manager and survive that. But knowing that Castillo has to be around still, you just need to be mindful of the way – not even the way that you’re treating him, because the way that you’re treating him is through your perspective. The question is, how does he feel like he’s being treated? That is imperative here, and if you can thread the needle and figure out a way to solve your problem while still keeping Luis Castillo content, then that’s the ideal (situation). That’s the goal, that is the aim of this whole thing. And it’s a very delicate and difficult subject.”
Castillo in line for positive regression?
While it has been a struggle for Castillo early on, Passan sees some reason to believe his numbers will level out with more starts. He pointed to Castillo’s 4.25 FIP, which is nearly identical to Bryan Woo’s and better than Logan Gilbert’s. However, he is concerned with Castillo’s career-low groundball rate.
“Ever since he’s come to Seattle, he’s been much more of a flyball pitcher. But he’s down to a 33% ground ball rate this year. Not good,” Passan said. “I will say this, the positive regression is going to come in the form of runners being stranded. He’s got a strand rate right now of only 58.8%, league average is somewhere in the 70-plus range.”
Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player in this story. Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
Seattle Mariners coverage
• Seattle Mariners place Gabe Speier on IL, add two lefty relievers
• The latest on Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh’s injury
• Seattle Mariners showing some concerning signs on defense
• Mariners prospect Felnin Celesten on a tear for High-A Everett
• What Mariners’ Emerson Hancock says has been key to his breakout
San Diego, CA
San Diego NASCAR race to be held on ‘Qualcomm Circuit’
Qualcomm has the naming rights as the official circuit partner of NASCAR’s San Diego race on June 19-21, the company said Monday. The 16-turn, 3.4-mile circuit will be the first race to ever take place on an active military base.
Qualcomm joins startup defense contractor Anduril as the other major sponsor of the weekend, with Anduril serving as the title sponsor of the event.
Qualcomm’s commitment to the Coronado race is emblematic. The company has a strong legacy in naval R&D and exponential growth in its automotive business – in the first few months of 2026, Qualcomm’s self-driving car technology has grossed almost $2.5 billion in revenue.
“Qualcomm is synonymous with innovation, and there could not be a more fitting partner to put its name on this groundbreaking circuit,” said Amy Lupo, President of NASCAR San Diego. “The Qualcomm Circuit represents the future of motorsports.”
Qualcomm plans to deploy intelligent computing and advanced connectivity “to elevate the fan experience and team performance throughout NASCAR San Diego Weekend,” the company said in a press release.
Construction of the Qualcomm Circuit begins in late May and will not interfere with day-to-day operations on the military base, said Matt Humphrey, NASCAR’s senior director of track communications.
“Qualcomm Circuit represents the perfect intersection of breakthrough innovation, high-performance competition, and deep community pride,” said Don McGuire, chief marketing officer at Qualcomm. “We’re honored to be part of this groundbreaking venue and bring this historic moment to our hometown.”
Qualcomm did not provide financial details about its naming rights deal.
More details about the event are available on the NASCAR San Diego Weekend website.
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