A View From the Border (Day 5): El Paso/Ciudad Juarez

Last week, a group of UC Davis law students visited the U.S./Mexico border.  We have posted a series of their “views of the border.”  Here is the group’s latest installment:

Day 5

Today we left the Blue Mist Motel in Florence and drove across the border between the United States and Mexico. We traveled through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to border town of El Paso and then on to our final destination – Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The drive totaled approximately eight hours. The striking scene of a massive Mexican flag billowing against the overcast sky greeted us as we drove through Mexico’s port of entry. It was the largest flag I had ever seen. As we drove toward the flag, we were surprised by how easy it was to enter Mexico from the United States. We moved quickly through the checkpoint without stopping. No one asked us to slow down, to verify our passports or to check our vehicle. There were no barriers past the Mexican port of entry. In contrast, those in opposing lanes of traffic met heightened security as they entered the United States. U.S. government agents stopped each car, checked passports, questioned drivers, searched vehicles and removed undesirable items from some of the cars. The process caused a mile-long traffic gridlock and a forty-five minute delay to the border. When the vehicles finally left the U.S. checkpoint, they maneuvered through several cement barricades that were arranged like an obstacle course so as to prevent a speedy entry. We realized how effortlessly most U.S. citizens enter Mexico compared to many Mexican citizens who must answer numerous questions and overcome other difficulties before admittance into the United States. We looked behind us at the modern American scene, the other side of the border. A McDonald’s fast food restaurant, an American flag, a Wells Fargo skyscraper and several prevalent buildings cluttered the landscape, signifying a wealthy nation to many. In stunning contrast, before us stretched a blanket of small structures that covered the rolling hills of Ciudad Juarez. A few larger buildings marked the center of the city. As we weaved through traffic and exited the highway, one student filmed the view – foreign cars, billboards with Spanish messages, Mexico license plates, small shops, weary old buildings and the people of Ciudad Juarez milling about the streets. As we witnessed the changes in scenery, we were intrigued by the socioeconomic disparity between the two countries within mere moments of crossing the border. Shortly after our entrance into Mexico, we met Israel Melero, our host and a local law student in Ciudad Juarez. We followed Israel to his home where we would stay the next two nights. After arriving at our room, we prepared for tomorrow, anticipating our first day of border delegation activities in Mexico.

KJ