SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- Foreign ambassadors from around the world made their way to San Diego to visit the border and see how the US handles security Monday.
Rolling down a gravel road, at the US-Mexico border, a van carried several foreign ambassadors to the US.
The group, part of more than 30, came to San Diego for the State Department’s “Experience America Program.”
Monday’s stop – a 14-mile stretch of newly constructed primary and secondary border wall just east of Otay Mesa.
As the ambassadors approached, work was being done in the hope of finishing the project by January.
“Today we’ve been told how you are protecting the US-Mexico border,” said Javlon Vahobov, Uzbekistan Ambassador to the United States.
Like the Uzbekistan Ambassador, this is their first time to California. Border issues top of mind in his home country.
“For a country that is located in the heart of central Asia, and surrounded by all 5 central Asian countries- including Afghanistan.”
Agents describing how they protect the border, from the construction of the walls, to agents and technology.
“Struggling with smuggling of narcotics, fighting trafficking persons. Those issues that have been shared today are very accurate, accurate for the region, for Uzbekistan itself,” said Vahobov.
The border trip is just part of the diplomats’ visit to San Diego. “Tunnels are being digged and drugs transported and that’s a real threat for American people I think,” said Andris Teikmanis, Ambassador of Latvia to the United States.
Teikmanis said he was also anxious to hear more about innovation taking place in San Diego.
“Learning about biotechnology, and university and different kinds of businesses and culture present here in San Diego.”
