Blasts Damage Kumeyaay Sacred Mountain for Border Wall Construction

Tecate residents and tribal members protest destruction of Kuchamaa Mountain, a holy site for the Kumeyaay people.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:13pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Construction on the U.S.-Mexico border wall has damaged Kuchamaa Mountain, a sacred site for the Kumeyaay people on both sides of the border. Explosions and heavy machinery have rumbled up the mountain, stirring outrage among the local Kumeyaay community. Tribal leaders say the mountain is a place of cultural and spiritual significance, and they are calling for the protection of this holy site.

Why it matters

The Kumeyaay people have long considered Kuchamaa Mountain a sacred place for ceremonies, rituals, and healing. The ongoing border wall construction, which has been expedited through waivers of environmental and cultural protection laws, is seen as a violation of Kumeyaay sovereignty and the desecration of a revered ancestral site.

The details

Heavy machinery and explosions have been blasting into Kuchamaa Mountain, also known as Tecate Peak or Cerro Cuchumá, which sits between the towns of Tecate in California and Tecate in Baja California. The mountain is a holy site where Kumeyaay shamans have gained knowledge and power, and it is the location of important cultural ceremonies. Tribal members say the construction is 'hurting a part of our culture' and feel the federal government is not respecting their concerns or protecting the sacred mountain.

  • In recent weeks, blasts and construction have echoed through the Tecate area.
  • In 1992, Kuchamaa Mountain was the first sacred mountain to be added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The players

Kuchamaa Mountain

Also known as Tecate Peak or Cerro Cuchumá, this mountain is a sacred site for the Kumeyaay people on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Kumeyaay People

An indigenous group native to parts of California and Baja California, who consider Kuchamaa Mountain a holy site for ceremonies, rituals, and healing.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

The federal agency overseeing the construction of the border wall, which has been expedited through waivers of environmental and cultural protection laws.

Emily Burgueno

Chair of the Kumeyaay Diegueño Land Conservancy, an organization advocating for the protection of sacred Kumeyaay lands.

Claudia Sheinbaum

The President of Mexico, who has addressed the concerns about the destruction of Kuchamaa Mountain during her daily press conferences.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It feels like they're hurting a part of us, a part of our culture.”

— Luis Rafael Cota, Kumeyaay community member in Tecate, Mexico

“It's like a church to us. That's where we hold our ceremonies.”

— Norma Alicia Meza, Kumeyaay leader from Juntas de Nejí y Anexos

“This is something we've been advocating to them, not just on this border wall project, but many projects, that they have desecrated our holy sites and cultural landscapes.”

— Emily Burgueno, Chair of Kumeyaay Diegueño Land Conservancy

What’s next

Baja California officials have met privately with Kumeyaay people from both sides of the border to discuss the issue, and they plan to make the details of the meeting public at a later date. The Tecate River Special Committee, comprised of community organizations and local authorities, is also working to address the concerns about the destruction of Kuchamaa Mountain.

The takeaway

The ongoing construction of the border wall in Tecate has sparked outrage among the local Kumeyaay community, who view the damage to Kuchamaa Mountain as a violation of their cultural and spiritual heritage. This case highlights the tensions between federal infrastructure projects and the protection of indigenous sacred sites, raising questions about the balance between national security and the preservation of ancestral lands.