Life in the Borderlands

Multiple rallies were held across the San Diego region on January 11, many were protests against the government shutdown or on behalf of the rights of migrants fleeing violence in Central America.

Outside the Border Patrol station in Chula Vista a crowd of protestors chanted, “From Palestine to Mexico, border walls have to go.”

During the frenzy of the 2018-midterm elections, the annual migration of asylum speakers travelling north en masse became one of the most discussed talking points.

For a moment, the eyes of the nation were focused on California’s slice of the Southern border as pundits and politicians scrutinized the chaos.

Then Democrats managed to take the House and almost overnight the migrant caravan receded into the background of political discourse.

President Trump’s new obsession became getting money for his border wall.

But even if the cameras are no longer rolling, things have changed for many who call this border region home.

When the migrants finally reached the border on New Years Day, U.S. agents fired tear gas over the border into Tijuana at the crowd of about 150 migrants. Numerous activists and reporters providing aid and documentation of the event were caught in the crossfire.

The situation at the border remains precarious, with many refugees still in dire need of help. Lives on both sides of the border have been upended. And though it is no longer the top story on cable news, the debate rages on locally.

Party for Socialism and Liberation member Jose Cortez said America’s intervention in foreign policies is at the root of this migration.

“The instability and poverty in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are symptomatic of U.S. interventionism,” Cortez said. “Our countries are rich in natural resources, but people are forced to migrate through the economic policies and military policies from the U.S.”

Others disagreed.

Aimee Sotter, a Trump supporter, organized six other like-minded people to speak out against the protesters.

“I’m here to support our California Border Patrol and I’m also here to counter-protest the people who are supporting and funding the migrants coming into our country

right now,” she said.

Sotter also said that the border crisis is not genuine, but it is not Trump that is to blame.

“It’s a manufactured crisis,” Sotter said. “It started because of Mexico and other countries and groups and organizations like Pueblos Sin Fronteras.”

Outside the Border Patrol station the crowd of migrant supporters shout “Somos un Pueblo Sin Fronteras!”

“We are a people without borders,” they said.

Meanwhile, in a speech to pro-migrant supporters, Brandon Garcia, a member of the Otay Mesa Detention Resistance, said the U.S. government was mishandling the crisis.

“We demand that governments around the world respect the rights of asylum for all member of the Central-Americans exodus, and stop the profiling of criminalization of refugees,” said

Garcia. “We demand the recognition of the political and social crisis throughout Central America that are caused by U.S. foreign policy.”

Others told their personal stories.

Ricardo Hernandez, 58, came from Honduras and joined the caravan when it passed through Chiapas. It took over 45 days to travel more than 2,300 miles from Chiapas to Tijuana, he said.

“I could not stand, my feet hurt from walking so much,” Hernandez said. “Throughout the journey I was lucky that I got some rides on my way.”

Hernandez said he used to live in the United States but was deported following an arrest for public intoxication. He eventually returned to Honduras, but again had to flee because of the conditions there.

“In our country there is no work and crime is tremendous. The necessity [to escape] is big,” he said.

Activists unhappy with the Trump administration are taking action into their own hands. Cristian Mejia, a member of Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) and PSL, said the answer is to fight for social justice.

“I’ve been following this issue for quite some time, locking up kids in jail, throwing tear gas at them,” said Mejia. “This made me realize the only thing that is going to cause change is by creating a union of solidarity. The government that we have now is one controlled by the rich and it doesn’t truly represents our interests.”

Mejia said he is trying to combat the suffering of the migrants.

“I got to deliver food aid to a camp in TJ and its truly tragic that this folks are being held there,” he said. “During their journey, families were giving rides and food aid to the migrant, which makes a big deference. There is lesson for people to really reflect on solidarity.”

Brooke Binkowski, a border reporter and managing editor of TruthOrFiction.com, said that Central American asylum seekers are not only expressing their human right to seek safety, but also protesting the U.S. destroying their countries.

“These countries were destabilized in part by the United States,” Binkowski said.

“These migrants are travelling together in large numbers to make a statement to the international community.”

Binkowski said she spends a lot of time fighting disinformation campaigns of those who would demonize asylum seekers online.

“I know that if I can make them look foolish online it will diminish their power a little bit,” she said.

Some people who were migrants now fight for the rights of other migrants. Antonio Arizaga, a member of the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) said migrants are asking for asylum to seek better conditions. He could relate. He migrated from Equador 30 years ago, he said.

“We want to make more people conscious, at one point some of us were undocumented, and decided to move north,” said Arizaga. “It’s time for solidarity and to own our little piece of sand. Maybe this dream will come true for them, sooner or later.”