Perched atop the hillside slope that is El Nido de las Aguilas, a small barrio on the eastern outskirts of Tijuana, Mexico, sits Gela Garcia Mejia’s abarrote – a small general store that sells food items. These stores are a staple of life in Mexico and can usually be found on nearly every corner in city neighborhoods. Nevertheless, it was surprising to find one within a stone’s throw of the end of the approximately 14 miles of landing mat fence that starts at the Pacific Ocean.
Garcia Mejia says she likes the location because the breeze cools her down and provides relief from the sweltering summer heat that can get stifling at the bottom of the hills. Her home is behind the store, where she lives with her husband and toddler daughter.
Gela Garcia Mejia looks out the window of her small abarrote near the U.S. – Mexico border. Photo by Lindsay Miller.
Even though there is a steady flow of illegal entrants that start their journey just beyond the fence into the Otay Mountains, she says business isn’t very good. Most of the migrants get their goods at the bottom of the hill, she said.
Her business consists of the few others who live on the top of the hill. Soon though, she said she will probably have to close it.
She said she doesn’t mind having the fence there, nor does she mind the occasional whirling of the Border Patrol helicopters above.
Like many we have talked to on the border, the international line that garners so much media attention is no more than a backdrop to their everyday lives.
“Like many we have talked to on the border, the international line that garners so much media attention is no more than a backdrop to their everyday lives.”
So true! As a resident on this side of the border, I am always amused when friends back East keep worrying about me due to the current media reports.
Border living is sweet. Where else can one experience an interchange between two different cultures on a daily basis? It is, without, a doubt, the friendliest place I have ever known.
— Kenny Barton 07/22/2006 07:57 AM #
This is an important project. Thank you all for doing this.
— j. relly 07/22/2006 08:36 AM #
It’s all so fuzzy and warm and “sweet”, I am all a-tingle! tee-hee!”Where else can one experience an interchange between two different cultures on a daily basis?” Are you kidding??? This side of Mexico all the way to Flagstaff is becoming more and more Mexicanized everyday! You can’t even order a burger anymore without having to find someone in the place to translate to the cook.”Two different cultures?” You must be new.We didn’t move to Mexico pal, Mexico moved to us! I can see now why these Star “reporters” and “investigators” aren’t taken seriously and are in fact ridiculed every time I turn around.One example is their refusal to call illegal aliens by any other term than “migrants”. I’ve read my last chapter of this childrens-view-of-the-world book currently being written by this Star crew, tenatively titled, “Wonderful Mexico, God How I Love Her”. What a joke. No wonder no one takes them seriously.
— Dezrtwulf 07/22/2006 12:11 PM #
Another disgusting post from the resident bigot. Dertz, leave. Please. America doesn’t need people like you.
(By the way… America DID move to Mexico… read your history)
— Donner 07/22/2006 12:19 PM #
excellente trabajo de los reporteros
— sam 07/22/2006 12:47 PM #
You want to give the southwest back to Mexico? I mean it’s only been ours for what, a hundred and seventy-five years? Read YOUR history Donner-Party! And guess what? I AM a liberal amigo! You obviously don’t grasp the situation here. Either that or you WANT to be a mexican. If that’s the case you’re living on the wrong side of the border. YOU leave America and head south. Case closed. Oh and by the way. I did start to leave the U.S. when they drafted my ass back in ‘72.I decided that whether or not this country was right or wrong, thick-headed or thin, I was going to meet my fate.So the LAST thing I need is being told I’m some kind of “bigot” for LOVING my country. Again, we didn’t move to mexico pal, it moved to US! And it ain’t a hundred and seventy-five years ago. You want to snivel about border security? It’s 5 YEARS after 9-11 and nothing STILL has been done to secure the border. Your romantic notions of the humble little tortilla selling mexican named Pedro are niave to say the least. I grew up here too from back in the ‘50’s. Those days are OVER and the sooner you realize we live in a horrible world made all the more freakin’ horrible by that moron in the white house the better off you’ll be! Tough and dangerous times call for tough reactions. Now we’re in the position of having to do something NONE of us want to do and that means being level-headed and not all emotional. You think I WANT it like this? Brother , it HAS to be this way.I suggest you either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way.
— Dezrtwulf 07/22/2006 02:00 PM #
“I’ve read my last chapter of this childrens-view-of-the-world book currently being written by this Star crew…”
Please keep your promise.
I know I’ve read the last of your misusing this forum to make personal attacks.
— Kenny Barton 07/23/2006 06:56 AM #
I didn’t start the “attacks” Jenny. If you actually trace my posts back to the beginning, I only questioned the unbiased backgrounds of the”impartial” investigatiors. Then I got slammed. I just responded to being referred to as a bigot and other unprovoked attacks against me personally. And here you are starting up with me too. Go back to posting your sweet,sweet observations.The less uninformed and unprovoked comments are directed at me, the less I respond. If you were smart, you’d notice that about me.
— Dezrtwulf 07/23/2006 12:53 PM #
Dezrt,
I applaud you for making these posts from your oh so comfortable, air-conditioned computer room. I hear a lot of whining and complaining about how we should do this or who we should blame for that. Yet, you continue to sit there and babble on. “Lead, follow, or get out of the way,” nice stolen quote. Liberal or not, you sound very frustrated. Life must be difficult, thinking about how many people owe you so much. And if you’re so afraid of the “Invading Mexicans,” you could do something productive. Maybe sit on your rooftop and snipe a couple for your cause, Mr. Freedom Protector. You could always walk through the streets with a loaded weapon, like a crazy maniac and start presumptuously hitting targets. Why don’t you start by going out and getting all these American drug consumers kicked off their habit so we don’t have to worry about the violent migrants. Not so easy of a task, is it? You could always join those National Guard troops, and help them build that oh so wonderful fence. They look like they could use an extra hand. Of course, everytime we see a shot of them, they seem to be standing around, sweating their butts off. This media team is giving you something to whine about. The least you could do is be grateful to the reporters and photographers who are feeding your pity frenzy. And God Bless America that nobody has burned down your house yet for all the naive things you’ve written.
— defender 07/23/2006 02:03 PM #
....Za? You know “Defective” the war is over. You CAN get parts for your head.
— Dezrtwulf 07/23/2006 04:10 PM #
I’ve been reading the daily reports, & the comments since the beginning We may not all like the choice of language—“migrant,” instead of “illegal,” etc. I know I don’t. But it seems to me that these reporters are simply trying to document life along the border as it really IS. Read past the objectionable language; you’ll find people just trying to make a living, much the same as you. (I’m retired).
— Carolyn 07/24/2006 08:29 PM #
In July, a team of Arizona Daily Star journalists traveled from San Diego to Brownsville for a close-up look at what it would take to secure the border. They used this blog to chronicle their experiences and will present a 4-day series of their findings beginning Sunday, Sept. 24.
Current Location:The journey is over. Stay tuned for our special report on the border beginning September 24.
Meet the Team
James Gregg recently joined the staff of the Arizona Daily Star as a
photojournalist after beginning his career in Colorado. James has lived abroad in Ecuador and Costa Rica, and holds a degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies from the University of Kansas.
Stephanie Innes is the faith and values reporter for the Star. She has worked at the newspaper since 1999 and previously covered crime. She has also been a reporter for the Tucson Citizen and for the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff.
Border and Immigration reporter Brady McCombs has been with the Star since February. He recently co-authored the Star's four-part investigative series, "Illegal Labor Fix Falls Short." McCombs, who is bilingual, spent three years working in Costa Rica.
Photographer Lindsay Miller joined the Arizona Daily Star in April 2005, relocating toTucson after working at the Napa Valley Register. She has worked on several documentary projects as well as a variety of local news and features..
Online producer Andrew Satter has been with the Star for more than two years. He oversees online news content relating to the border and politics/elections, has produced dozens of videos and audio slide shows and is a co-creator of the award-winning Border Death Database.
Reader Polls
Week 3 Results
Question: Which border state has the most out-of-control border?
- California - 9%
- Arizona - 53%
- New Mexico - 10%
- Texas - 7%
- Minnesota - 21%
Total number of votes - 68
Week 2 Results
Question: What is the top reason the U.S. needs to secure its borders?
- Stop illegal immigrants from coming into the country - 48%
- Crack down on drug smuggling - 14%
- Stop terrorists from being able to get in - 28%
- An open border poses no immediate threat - 9%
- Protect against human sex slave trafficking - 1%
Total number of votes - 79
Week 1 Results
Question: What should be the first priority in solving the illegal immigration problem?
- Secure the border - 48%
- Workplace enforcement - 21%
- Visa enforcement - 3%
- Institute a guest worker program - 17%
- Take care of non-border-related issues first - 11%
Total number of votes - 150
Border gallery
What does the word 'border' mean to you? Be it the U.S./Mexico border, the Brazilian/Argentinian border or the border between you and your neighbor's house, we want to see your images of this ill-defined concept in our gallery. In the Photo Caption field please tell us the subject of the photo. Submit your photo »»
James Gregg recently joined the staff of the Arizona Daily Star as a
photojournalist after beginning his career in Colorado. James has lived abroad in Ecuador and Costa Rica, and holds a degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies from the University of Kansas.
Stephanie Innes is the faith and values reporter for the Star. She has worked at the newspaper since 1999 and previously covered crime. She has also been a reporter for the Tucson Citizen and for the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff.
Border and Immigration reporter Brady McCombs has been with the Star since February. He recently co-authored the Star's four-part investigative series, "Illegal Labor Fix Falls Short." McCombs, who is bilingual, spent three years working in Costa Rica.
Photographer Lindsay Miller joined the Arizona Daily Star in April 2005, relocating toTucson after working at the Napa Valley Register. She has worked on several documentary projects as well as a variety of local news and features..
Online producer Andrew Satter has been with the Star for more than two years. He oversees online news content relating to the border and politics/elections, has produced dozens of videos and audio slide shows and is a co-creator of the award-winning Border Death Database.
So true! As a resident on this side of the border, I am always amused when friends back East keep worrying about me due to the current media reports.
Border living is sweet. Where else can one experience an interchange between two different cultures on a daily basis? It is, without, a doubt, the friendliest place I have ever known.
— Kenny Barton 07/22/2006 07:57 AM #
— j. relly 07/22/2006 08:36 AM #
— Dezrtwulf 07/22/2006 12:11 PM #
(By the way… America DID move to Mexico… read your history)
— Donner 07/22/2006 12:19 PM #
— sam 07/22/2006 12:47 PM #
— Dezrtwulf 07/22/2006 02:00 PM #
Please keep your promise.
I know I’ve read the last of your misusing this forum to make personal attacks.
— Kenny Barton 07/23/2006 06:56 AM #
— Dezrtwulf 07/23/2006 12:53 PM #
I applaud you for making these posts from your oh so comfortable, air-conditioned computer room. I hear a lot of whining and complaining about how we should do this or who we should blame for that. Yet, you continue to sit there and babble on. “Lead, follow, or get out of the way,” nice stolen quote. Liberal or not, you sound very frustrated. Life must be difficult, thinking about how many people owe you so much. And if you’re so afraid of the “Invading Mexicans,” you could do something productive. Maybe sit on your rooftop and snipe a couple for your cause, Mr. Freedom Protector. You could always walk through the streets with a loaded weapon, like a crazy maniac and start presumptuously hitting targets. Why don’t you start by going out and getting all these American drug consumers kicked off their habit so we don’t have to worry about the violent migrants. Not so easy of a task, is it? You could always join those National Guard troops, and help them build that oh so wonderful fence. They look like they could use an extra hand. Of course, everytime we see a shot of them, they seem to be standing around, sweating their butts off. This media team is giving you something to whine about. The least you could do is be grateful to the reporters and photographers who are feeding your pity frenzy. And God Bless America that nobody has burned down your house yet for all the naive things you’ve written.
— defender 07/23/2006 02:03 PM #
— Dezrtwulf 07/23/2006 04:10 PM #
— Carolyn 07/24/2006 08:29 PM #