In the borderlands

The sign to the left can be found on California highways that lead to the border, such as southern San Diego, California.

These two simple images say quite a bit about the perception of undocumented families that are crossing the border. On informational websites, such as 'howstuffworks' the caption found beneath a photograph of a US highway with the sign to the left reads,

"Signs like this one can be found near the U.S.-Mexico border, warning drivers to watch for illegal immigrants running across the highway."

As if undocumented foot migrants were deer running in the way of traffic.

Perhaps it's just me, but there's something bothersome about both the sign and the caption. The sign tries to force a picture of undocumented foot migrants as dirty vagabonds that are forcing their daughter into danger.

And as for the caption--I get the feeling that it's made with underlying racially-based humorist intentions.--which is offensive...any takers on this feeling?




In spite of trade that has increased three times the number prior to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, job growth in Mexico has remained relatively stagnant. There has been a significant relocation of where the jobs are located--a substantial number in northern Mexico. The issue of foreign capital investment into the 'maquiladora' factory industry has created "bottlenecking" in many border towns inluding Naco, Matamoros, Ciudad Juarez, Tecate.

Bottlenecking refers to the illusion of job growth which gives people the incentive to move those regions where there are perceived jobs (in this case, northern Mexico), only to discover that those jobs are taken. There is such an enormous job pool, that urban sprawl begins to increase. With no jobs, these people are essentially homeless. This environment invites many Mexicans (and Central Americans) who have moved to northern Mexico in pursuit of jobs, to job the border.

After all, they've already made the trek to the bordertowns--without jobs, suffering hunger, no home and perhaps a family to care for--what option is available to Mexicans?



Death toll of migrants that have died while crossing (2006)

THE VIEW OF EL PASO, TEXAS AND CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA

can you tell where the US ends and Mexico begins?

--unfortunately, the hill is in the way, but when only gazing upon the night lights of both sister cities, it is virtually undecipherable.

As dark as the hill is, in the middle of the desert...so are many maquiladoras surrounding Juarez Mexico. Outside of the maquiladoras, there are no street lights or road signs that would allow anyone to walk safely into the towns. The 'maquila' workers--predominately women--are forced to wait outside after their workday for a 'pesera' (small metro bus) to come by.

--As a brief correction, there are some maquiladoras closer to the city that have street lights available, and some others have a few lights on the outside of their buildings, however, the VAST majority of maquiladoras do not, and the majority also force the workers to vacate the premises after their workday.