U.S. Border Patrol has requested input to “proposed remediation actions associated with the construction of border barrier in San Diego County.” The proposed “Remediation Plan” makes no mention of the Binational Friendship Garden of Native Plants, a key feature of the binational meeting place inaugurated as “International Friendship Park” by First Lady Pat Nixon 51 years ago.  

On January 8 2020, San Diego Border Patrol staff acting outside the chain of command completely destroyed the U.S. side of the Binational Garden. One week later, interim Chief Douglas Harrison issued a public apology, committing SD Border Patrol to work with community members to restore the garden.  

Since that apology and commitment, San Diego Border Patrol officials have:

• disallowed volunteer access to the binational garden (October 2021)
• denied a request for compensation from our fiscal sponsor Via International (April 2022);
• allowed the U.S. side of the garden to fall into a state of complete neglect.

The intent of the proposed Remediation Plan is to “avert further potential environmental damage,” and includes “revegetation of disturbed areas.” No area in San Diego has been more damaged or disturbed by border wall construction and related activities than the Binational Friendship Garden of Native Plants. 

Therefore, we, the undersigned, request that U.S. Border Patrol allocate funds through its San Diego Remediation Plan to ensure the full restoration of the Binational Garden at Friendship Park.