Trump's visit to San Diego to see border wall prototypes will bring a clash of cultures, protesters

When Air Force One lands at San Diego's marine air station Tuesday morning, President Donald Trump will be welcomed by a receptive audience. But that is likely to change as soon as he steps foot outside the military base. 

Trump will spend about three hours in San Diego on Tuesday afternoon. The highlight is expected to be a tour of the eight different 30-foot chunks of wall near the U.S.-Mexico border — each of them a prototype for Trump's long-promised border wall.

After the tour, he'll deliver remarks to members of the military at the Miramar Marine air station before heading out to Beverly Hills for a fundraiser later that day.

This trip will be his first presidential visit to solid-blue California, a state he lost by more than 3 million votes during the election. Over the course of his presidency, California has emerged as the leader of the anti-Trump movement, taking stances in opposition on nearly every single issue, from sanctuary cities to the border wall.

The animosity and defiance toward the president is expected to continue Tuesday in San Diego, with at least two planned protests against Trump's visit on both sides of the border. However, there is also at least one group is that is rallying in support.

Nearly a week ago, local groups began planning rallies and protests in San Diego's Otay Mesa neighborhood — near where the eight border wall prototypes are located.

SPECIAL REPORT: The Wall: Unknown stories, unintended consequences

WATCH: See the region from the air

San Diegans for Secure Borders is hosting a “big rally” in support of the president’s visit on Tuesday morning in that neighborhood, according to a Facebook invitation. 

Despite California's reputation as a Democratic stronghold statewide, the suburbs around San Diego are represented by Republicans in Congress, and there's a sizable military presence in the area, where Trump tends to draw strong support. 

“The federal government needs to get serious about securing the border,” group founder Jeff Schwilk said. “There’s hope with President Trump in office that we’re going to get there eventually.”

That event is open to “all supporters of strong border security,” the group’s Facebook invitation said, adding that San Diego County Sheriff’s Department will be there, “to keep any open border radicals and protesters away from our rally.”

MAP: How much of the border already has a fence? 

But, as expected, even more protests are planned against Trump's visit, in a community where many regard his idea to build a border wall as an affront to the region's shared identity.

That feeling was front and center on Monday night, when hundreds of protesters, including dozens of community groups, marched through downtown San Diego to protest Trump's plans to build the wall and his policies on immigration.

"This isn't only an issue of the border wall, it's also issue of the shadow of wall. And what means is increased enforcement that this administration purports to include," Pedro Rios, who heads the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium. 

Another community group, Nuevo Movimento will lead a protest march, called Deport Trump Brigade, on Tuesday morning, also in Otay Mesa.

“The main message is to get it through Trump’s head that he’s not welcome in San Diego or California, period,” said Jenerai Del Castillo, one of the event organizers.

The event will be held in an empty lot just outside the county sheriff’s designated free speech area, about a half mile away from the pro-wall rally, according to the Facebook invitation. Del Castillo said the event should be peaceful.

“We don’t plan on approaching, or talking to, or confronting any of the Trump supporters or Trump himself,” he said.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has designated the free speech area for, “individuals and groups with contrasting opinions to gather.” The agency is restricting people from bringing into this area any items that could be used as weapons, including firearms, knives and boards used for flags, signs and banners.

On Monday morning, crews were at work around the prototypes, spreading gravel on the dirt construction site and unloading shipping containers, apparently in an effort to block views of the site from the Mexican side.

Mexican authorities also confirmed they would secure the area near the prototypes from their side. Police scouted the area on Sunday, and will begin restricting access on Tuesday morning for the duration of the visit, they said.

On the U.S. side, the eight structures are located in an industrial zone, at the base of the Otay Mountains. But across the border in Tijuana, factories and a working-class neighborhood sit where the prototypes are visible.

At least one group there, the Bi-national Coalition vs Trump , is planning to march from a local university to the border fence. But it's unclear how many people will participate.

Construction on the eight prototypes began in late September, after a rushed six-month search for contractors. In November, U.S. Customs and Border Protection began testing the eight structures — four made of concrete and four of alternate construction materials — to determine how easy they are to climb over or breach through them. 

But the evaluation process has been ongoing since December. To date, CBP has not chosen a winning design, and funding and other plans for the entire wall remain uncertain.

When is Trump coming to San Diego?

The White House says the president will arrive at Miramar Marine base at 2:30 p.m. Eastern, 11:30 a.m. local time. He is scheduled to make remarks to members of the military at 5 p.m. Eastern, 2 p.m. local time. 

Return to azcentral for full coverage of Trump's San Diego visit. 

More information on rallies, protests

• San Diegans for Secure Borders rally: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., 10200 Enrico Fermi Dr., San Diego, CA 92154
• Protest Trump @ the Border: Empty lot at the corner of Enrico Fermi Dr. and Via de la Amistad. It is located just outside of the sheriff’s designated protest area.

Here's how federal agents fight drug smugglers in San Diego:

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