Baja California’s state congress voted unanimously on April 21 to demand that three federal agencies intervene to stop what lawmakers called irreversible damage to Cerro Cuchumá, a sacred mountain of the Kumiai indigenous people near Tecate. The motion, introduced by legislator Teresita del Niño Jesús Ruiz Mendoza, calls for diplomatic engagement with the United States after U.S. government dynamite detonations reportedly began on the mountain’s slopes in late March.
The proposal names three agencies: SEMARNAT (Mexico’s environment ministry), INAH (the national anthropology and history institute), and INPI (the national institute for indigenous peoples). It asks all three to coordinate with the Mexican president’s office on a formal response to the U.S. government.
Cerro Cuchumá Straddles the Border East of Tecate
Cerro Cuchumá rises along the international boundary about five kilometers east of the Tecate port of entry. The mountain sits in both countries, with its northern face in San Diego County and its southern slopes in the municipality of Tecate. On the U.S. side, much of the terrain falls within or near Tecate Peak, a landmark visible from Highway 94.
The Kumiai people, also spelled Kumeyaay, are one of Baja California’s original indigenous communities. Their ancestral territory stretched from the Pacific coast east across what is now the border region of San Diego and Tecate. Cerro Cuchumá has served as a ceremonial and burial site for centuries. The mountain also feeds natural springs that supply water to surrounding communities on the Mexican side.
“Cerro Cuchumá is a sacred space for the Kumiai indigenous people, serving as a ceremonial center, a spiritual center, and a center of cultural identity,” Ruiz Mendoza told the congress during her presentation.
The Kumiai population in Baja California is small, estimated at fewer than 1,000 people across several communities including San José de la Zorra near the Guadalupe Valley and Juntas de Nejí east of Tecate. Their cultural sites on both sides of the border have faced encroachment from development, agriculture, and border infrastructure for decades. On the U.S. side, the Kumeyaay Nation encompasses 13 bands across San Diego County. Both populations share the mountain as a cultural landmark.
U.S. Dynamite Blasting Began in Late March 2026
The legislative proposal states that the U.S. government began dynamite detonations on the mountain’s slopes in late March. The blasting has caused fragmentation of biological corridors, loss of biodiversity, and damage to archaeological and burial sites belonging to the Kumiai people. The source of the blasting activity has not been officially identified in the proposal, but the border region east of Tecate has seen ongoing U.S. border infrastructure work in recent years, including wall construction, road grading, and sensor installation.
“We are talking about a biocultural heritage that transcends borders, and the damage to it constitutes a violation of international protection principles,” Ruiz Mendoza said.
Mexico has limited direct legal mechanisms to stop construction activity on U.S. soil. But the proposal invokes international frameworks for indigenous rights and environmental protection, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Mexico ratified. Bilateral environmental agreements between the two countries, such as the La Paz Agreement of 1983, provide a framework for addressing transboundary environmental harm. That agreement requires each country to notify the other when border activities may cause pollution or ecological damage.
INAH, which oversees archaeological and historical preservation in Mexico, has authority over sites on the Mexican side of Cuchumá but none on U.S. territory. SEMARNAT can file complaints through diplomatic channels. INPI, created in 2018 to replace the older CDI indigenous affairs commission, has a mandate to defend indigenous cultural rights but has limited enforcement power abroad.
Hiking Access and Water Supply at Stake Near Tecate
Cerro Cuchumá is a popular hiking destination for residents of Tecate and visitors from the broader border region. Several trails on the Mexican side lead to viewpoints along the ridgeline. The mountain’s natural springs feed water sources used by nearby rural communities, making ecological damage a water security concern as well as a cultural one.
Tecate’s municipal area has grown steadily, with a population exceeding 110,000 in the 2020 census. The wine and craft beer tourism corridor between Tecate and the Guadalupe Valley draws visitors year-round, many of whom pass through Kumiai territory. Damage to the mountain and its springs could affect both local water availability and the ecological appeal of the surrounding landscape.
The unanimous vote in the state congress now moves the matter to federal agencies. SEMARNAT, INAH, and INPI must decide whether and how to engage the U.S. government. No timeline for federal action has been announced. The original reporting was published by The Baja Post on April 21.