IMPERIAL BEACH - New border wall construction West of the San Ysidro Port of Entry could mean the end for Friendship Park.
The new construction ordered by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will replace the existing primary fence and reinstall a secondary fence, which was partially removed last year. Pedro Rios, Director of the American Friends Service Committee, tells NBC 7 the new plans don't feature an access gate.
“It’s a border wall that is taller, that will not provide a feature for public access and will decimate the legacy of Friendship Park, “ Rios said.
The monument gate has been opened by border agents from time to time to allow separated families to be reunited, but only for a few minutes. While construction could begin within a few weeks, Rios hopes the plans can still be altered to make sure a gate is in place.
In a statement, the Border Patrol says the current border wall in that area is no longer structurally sound and is a risk to the community.
Photo: AFP