Troop Presence Expands at US–Mexico Border in California as Illegal Crossings Plummet

The cross-border traffic flow between Tijuana and San Diego has slowed to a trickle, while protests erupt in sanctuary cities across the state.

A U.S. Marine with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, secures concertina wire together along the southern border wall near San Ysidro, Calif., Jan. 27, 2025. U.S. Northern Command is working with the Department of Homeland Security to place physical barriers to curtail illegal border crossings. Lance Cpl. Caleb Goodwin/U.S. Marine Corps

SAN DIEGO—The once-steady foot traffic from Tijuana, Mexico, to San Diego at the San Ysidro port of entry slowed to a trickle last week as stricter immigration measures were imposed by the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump has issued a barrage of executive orders to end the Biden-era border crisis, tighten national security, and curb illegal immigration since his inauguration at noon on Jan. 20.