California Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced a major project designed to build a new entry port in San Diego designed to bolster trade with Mexico.
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced that a new state-sponsored project will be created to stimulate California’s economic growth, as well as an initiative geared toward improving border security.
The Project
California is set to begin a construction project to open a new port of entry in Otay Mesa East, situated near San Diego. Newsom hopes that this effort will spur trade opportunities between Mexico and California, thereby strengthening the state’s economy.
Once completed, the new entry port is expected to lessen the delays often experienced at other entry ports along the southern border the state shares with Mexico. Moreover, the project is meant to expedite the flow of commercial goods into California. Last year, economists estimated that California and Mexico conducted $88 billion worth of trade. Port-of-entry delays negatively impact both the American and Mexican economies, resulting in $3.4 billion in lost revenue and up to 88,000 lost jobs.
Last year, Mexico surpassed China as the United States’ largest trading partner. Research conducted by the Wilson Center concluded that almost 5 million American jobs depend on trade with the country’s southern neighbor.
The entry port project is also intended to positively influence California’s infrastructure. The Otay Mesa construction is part of Newsom’s mission to make needed upgrades to roads and highways throughout the state. As part of the plan, California will build a road leading to the new port.
After the assembly of the port and roadway, state officials believe that traffic congestion along border crossings will diminish. Currently, vehicles often idle at these locations for as long as three hours, wasting precious time and resources. Moreover, idling cars and trucks emit fossil fuels and other toxins into the surrounding air, resulting in pollution that negatively impacts area residents. The new construction is expected to cut border wait times in half.
“This new port-of-entry will strengthen California’s world-leading economy, create jobs, and support regional communities through trade,” Newsom said.
Protecting the Border
The Governor also announced the formulation of a new border-safeguarding strategy involving the California National Guard (CalGuard). The initiative aims to enhance border security, lessen the flow of the deadly drug fentanyl, and reduce the illegal transport of money and firearms out of the country.
The effort follows Newsom’s decision to nearly double the number of CalGuard Counterdrug Task Force members tasked with intercepting illicit drugs across the state, particularly at ports of entry. In 2023, law enforcement officials seized more than 62,000 pounds of fentanyl.
Newsom’s border security efforts also include a partnership between CalGuard and federal drug enforcement agencies. These entities will work closely to monitor the border, with special attention placed on stopping the flow of cash and weapons from the United States to Mexico.
Newsom has directed state officials to submit an application to the United States State Department for a military partnership between CalGuard and Mexico under the federal State Partnership Program. This action reaffirms the commitment between California and Mexico to keep their borders safe.
“The California National Guard continues to stand as trailblazers in the fight against fentanyl,” said Major General Matthew Beevers, adjutant general of CalGuard. “Our interagency partnerships and support of law enforcement aims to protect our communities and disrupt international criminal organization activity.”
“We’re further stepping up border security with a new CalGuard initiative targeting the cash and weapons that fuel cartel violence, complementing our successful efforts to block fentanyl from entering our state,” Newsom said. “California is proving that we can build strong international partnerships with Mexico, our top trading partner, to grow our economy and create jobs while prioritizing the safety and well-being of our communities.”
