The three young people wore only underwear and held green trash bags on their heads as they sloshed through the murky, polluted New River, which flows north from Mexicali, Mexico to Calexico, Ca.
The trio’s attempt to illegally enter the United States turned out to be in vain. The U.S. Border Patrol waited for them on the banks of the sewage-laden river and the illegal crossers – two men and one woman who appeared to be in their 20s – turned back.
Calexico, a city of about 34,000, straddles the border alongside the more heavily populated Mexican city of Mexicali, with about 1.3 million people.
Attempts to cross into Calexico from Mexico via a break in the metal border fence at New River are common. The local Border Patrol says the river banks on the Mexican side are controlled by smugglers who charge money to the crossers.
The river crossers typically carry their clothes in trash bags so that they have something dry to wear when they get out of the water, to help them blend into the Calexico community.
Minutes before we saw the three try to cross, agents caught a crosser who had fashioned a headdress out of Styrofoam and twigs and attempted to look like a bush floating down the water as he traveled north.
Agent Martha Silva of the U.S. Border Patrol’s El Centro Sector has been monitoring the Calexico area for nearly 21 years. She was born in Mexicali, has family in Mexico, and says culture in Calexico is intertwined with Mexico. Many businesses in Calexico accept pesos.
Silva is devoted to her job of keeping the international border secure.
“I am enforcing U.S. laws and I treat everyone I encounter with respect,” she said.
This is fascinating stuff. I found this story ” crossing through filth” interesting and well written. Keep up the good work ! Roberta
— roberta@interlog.com 07/23/2006 06:55 PM #
I agree, Roberta.
But I was surprised to learn that (only?) “several businesses in Calexico accept pesos.”
Perhaps, when the crew reaches Nogales, Arizona, they will discover that virtually all the businesses here eagerly accept pesos from the annual 40,000 or so Mexican shoppers that legally walk across the line.
In actual fact, 65% of the annual city budget of Nogales, Arizona derives from the sales taxes they pay. And, of course, the state of Arizona is enriched even more.
Perhaps Calexico needs to send a delegation to Nogales, AZ?
— Kenny Barton 07/24/2006 08:55 AM #
I read Stephanie Innes’”crossing through filth” blog and viewed the video with great interest… It’s a sad state of affairs for these desperate people who are struggling for a better life and are unable to apply for immigrant status through normal procedures… I enjoy reading Ms Innes’ ‘on the spot’ reporting… Her blogs are interesting, factual and sensitively written.
Keep them coming!
Sheila Brogren – July 24th, 11:55pm…
— Sheila Brogren 07/24/2006 09:11 PM #
The number of pedestrian shoppers crossing into Nogales exceeds 500,000 anually. Sorry for the error.
— Kenny Barton 07/25/2006 04:58 AM #
Interesting and well written.
— Jane Judges 07/25/2006 09:00 AM #
I’ve read the New River blog with keen interest. I wonder, did you hear anything re how much the smugglers on the Mexican side demand from crossers? And what if a group of crossers refused to pay a smuggler and just walked into the river?
— Jerry Brown 07/26/2006 08:09 AM #
Andrew, you have a tripod. No more shakycam, please.
— Sean K 07/26/2006 02:42 PM #
Jerry, your question is good but difficult to answer. According to the Border Patrol agents I spoke with, the banks of the river on the Mexican side are under complete control of smugglers. The going rate according to several Calexico residents is about $600 per person, but again that number is imprecise. Thanks for asking. Stephanie.
— Stephanie 07/28/2006 09:32 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.
— roberta@interlog.com 07/23/2006 06:55 PM #
But I was surprised to learn that (only?) “several businesses in Calexico accept pesos.”
Perhaps, when the crew reaches Nogales, Arizona, they will discover that virtually all the businesses here eagerly accept pesos from the annual 40,000 or so Mexican shoppers that legally walk across the line.
In actual fact, 65% of the annual city budget of Nogales, Arizona derives from the sales taxes they pay. And, of course, the state of Arizona is enriched even more.
Perhaps Calexico needs to send a delegation to Nogales, AZ?
— Kenny Barton 07/24/2006 08:55 AM #
Keep them coming!
Sheila Brogren – July 24th, 11:55pm…
— Sheila Brogren 07/24/2006 09:11 PM #
— Kenny Barton 07/25/2006 04:58 AM #
— Jane Judges 07/25/2006 09:00 AM #
— Jerry Brown 07/26/2006 08:09 AM #
— Sean K 07/26/2006 02:42 PM #
— Stephanie 07/28/2006 09:32 PM #