Row boat to cross the Rio Grande River between Big Bend National Park and Boquillas del Carmen, Chihuahua. (Sergio Chapa/Borderzine.com)

Viaje frontera Texas-México de un periodista y una académica

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Conocí a Sergio Chapa en la frontera haciendo cada uno nuestro trabajo; él es periodista y yo soy profesora en la Universidad de Texas en Brownsville (UTB). Coincidimos varias veces y siempre hablábamos de la frontera, de la vida aquí, de su gente, de la violencia, del narco, del petróleo, de la música, de las carreteras. Sergio nació en San Benito, Texas y yo nací en Texcoco, Estado de México y ahora vivimos los dos en la frontera y hacemos trabajo sobre esta región, su gente y sus problemas. Yo enseño, investigo y escribo sobre temas fronterizos, en particular, sobre la violencia, la (in)seguridad y la migración; actualmente me enfoco en temas de hidrocarburos e infraestructura comercial en las zonas fronterizas. Sergio reporta en la frontera; escribe un poco de todo; es el tuitero y usuario de redes sociales más conocido en el Valle de Texas.

Los hermanitos Johan,10, e Irving, 11, sonríen cuando hablan de todas las cosas que harán cuando su padre les compre la visa que les prometió. (Vianey Alderete/Borderzine.com)

Marcha católica al pie de la frontera reza por la reforma inmigratoria

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Read this story in English. SUNLAND PARK, NM – Con los dedos enganchados en los diamantes de metal que forman la malla fronteriza, Johan, 10, y su hermano Irving, 11, luchan contra los penetrantes rayos del sol desde el lado mexicano para poder abrir sus ojos y observar en detalle a la gente que ya empieza a llegar por carro de este lado de la frontera. Unos 150 feligreses católicos y los obispos de Ciudad Juárez y El Paso se reunieron el sábado 7 de septiembre junto a la malla que separa dos países en el vecindario Anapra, para orar por la reforma migratoria. Con líderes de la diócesis de Ciudad Juárez del otro lado y las diócesis de El Paso, Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, Brownsville, San Ángelo, Piedras Negras y San Antonio de este, la comunidad católica mostró  su apoyo por los derechos de los inmigrantes al reunirse en el desierto fronterizo celebrando una misa de solidaridad. Las oraciones fueron dirigidas por el obispo Gustavo Rodríguez Vega de Nuevo Laredo y el arzobispo de la arquidiócesis de San Antonio, Gustavo Garcia-Siller, quienes mencionaron claramente que el evento era para señalar la necesidad de una amplia y justa reforma migratoria americana, según los principios de la enseñanza social católica.

Prerna Lal, 28, and Lindsay Schubiner, 28, a same-sex bi-national couple, participate in the "first National DREAM wedding. (Luis Hernández/Borderzine.com)

Wedding joins two persons and two causes – LGBT advocacy and the DREAMers movement

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Special to Borderzine

WASHINGTON – In the quaint and inconspicuous Lutheran Church of the Reformation, situated right next to the Supreme Court, a wedding is about to take place. A crowd of media, LGBT advocacy groups and hundreds of National Immigrant Youth Alliance (NIYA) DREAMers, begins to find its way to the seats, setting aside signs and banners. The couple arrives minutes later. The bride is wearing a slim-fitting white dress, while the groom is sporting a blue tie and shirt. Both are wearing white flower tiaras.

"Stand with families" was the clamor of students members of United We Dream. (Luis Hernandez/Borderzine.com)

DREAMers march on Capitol Hill to put a human face on the struggle for immigration reform

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WASHINGTON – A group of college students dressed in blue graduation gowns sit in a gallery during a U.S. Senate hearing, their eyes fixed on the Senate floor, watching attentively as a steady stream of yay votes are tallied and read out loud by the clerk. They’re not the usual student visitors on a school-sanctioned field trip to the Capitol – they’re DREAMers and the vote they are witnessing will ultimately decide the legality of their residency in this country. The Senate Bill 744: Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act more commonly known as the Immigration bill, passed its first hurdle June 11 on an 82-15 vote, with 54 Democrats and 28 Republicans voting to move the bill to the floor. With congressmen all around Washington voicing their opinions to anyone who would listen, the DREAMers sought to place a human face on immigration and let them know the repercussions of their rhetoric. The students are members of United We Dream (UWD), a nonpartisan network made up of 52 affiliate organizations in 25 states, and one of the largest immigrant youth-led organizations in the nation.

Multimedia journalism academy gives teachers time to learn

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On a Saturday morning in early June, a UTEP classroom buzzed with anticipation as students sat in front of computers and watched demonstrations on the brave new world of multimedia journalism. Their teachers were seasoned pros in the arts of sound recording, social media, videography, web programming, and much more. The students themselves were professionals in a different regard; they were university professors who had traveled from all over the country to participate in the fourth annual Dow Jones Multimedia Training Academy hosted by UTEP. By the end of their five-day intensive program, the group of journalism teachers had learned to beat the El Paso summer heat as well as how to use the technology available to them to educate upcoming generations of reporters. The group included representatives from the University of Arizona, San Diego City College, Arizona State University, North Texas University, California State University at Long Beach, Texas State University, Texas Christian University, Illinois State University,Central Michigan University, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Florida International University and the University of Oklahoma.

cattle cowboy

Vacas sin fronteras: Livestock crossing fuels economy

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SANTA TERESA, NM – It’s a Tuesday morning in June and a few hundred head of cattle are running across the U.S.-Mexico border. The Santa Teresa International Export/Import Livestock Crossing is the busiest in the U.S. It is one of the few crossings where cattle are permitted to run across the border, avoiding the need for cattle trailers and long lines at international ports. “Last year was our largest amount of cattle crossed in a year,” said Director Daniel Manzanares. “Usually, we do an average of 300,000-310,000 animals a year. We were at 478,000, close to $300 million worth of commerce.”

The facility is owned by a cooperative of 5,000-7,000 Mexican ranchers, Unión Ganadera Regional de Chihuahua Co-op Inc., and is 35 acres on the U.S. side and about a third larger on the Mexico side of the border, Manzanares said.

Desplante con adorno. Fue la primera vez que McCormick tocó un cuerno de toro. ( ©Henry Holt & CO.)

Recuerdan en Cd. Juárez a Patricia McCormick y el arte de ser torera en una afición masculina

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EL PASO — Patricia McCormick le tiró derechazos, pero el toro no los miró. Ella continuó incitando con la muleta, supo que el toro quería agarrarla con los cuernos. Fue entonces que la levantó, el pitón había penetrado trece pulgadas en su pantorrilla. Se dio cuenta que tenía que matarlo. McCormick describe su segunda cornada en su libro Lady Bullfighter.

Afghan women work in sewing factories to make uniforms and blankets for their military. Afghanistan, 2011 (Photo Courtesy of Andrea Salazar)

Picturing the people and ruins of Afghanistan

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EL PASO — Afghan women sit one behind another, feeding tan thread into their sewing machines, looking down at their work in concentration, while one gazes through the slit of her Hijab, her dark eyes piercing the camera lens. This was a photo taken by El Paso native Andrea Salazar during her deployment two years ago. Joining the Air Force in 2009, Salazar has captured images from different parts of the world as a combat photographer in the military. “I never thought about joining in high school,” Salazar said. “When I worked at Ft.

Family carries charrería tradition through generations

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CANUTILLO, TX – Down a dusty road 15 miles outside El Paso, the Castro family continues a centuries-old Mexican custom of charrería, a colorful pageant similar to American rodeo. The Castros have built five lienzos, or arenas, in the area since 1970, when their father, Omar Castro II, began constructing them. The family operates a horse ranch and lienzo, along with a dance hall, in Canutillo, Texas. The sport of charrería dates back to the 1600s, when Spanish conquistadors brought equestrian contests to Mexico. Ranch hands learned events, or suertes, while working with horses.

Chole Saldaña has been buying "esponjas" for 30 years. (Pablo Hernández-Batista/Borderzine.com)

Bowie Bakery – 42 years of traditional pan dulce

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EL PASO – In Segundo Barrio, the traditional way is the best way. Especially when you’re taking about “pan dulce.” Since 1951 customers have been returning to Bowie Bakery on the corner of 7th and Park in downtown El Paso to get their “esponjas, marranitos, polvorones and empanadas de piña.”

Located on the city’s south side, the Segundo Barrio is home to more than 8,000 people, according to City of El Paso statistics. A morning drive through the neighborhood would typically encounter a variety of colorful murals as well as locals looking for day labor. The bakery has been in the Marquez family for the past 42 years and is now owned by Juan Marquez who continues the family tradition of making El Paso’s favorite bread. The bakery, known for its “sabrosos panes de dulce” and family-oriented service, has played host to presidents, members of congress and other dignitaries looking for the best baked goods in El Paso.

Marfa, TX, a town of about 2,000 people is a hub for contemporary art in the Southwest. (Amber Watts/Borderzine.com)

Marfa – Tiny Texas town is a vibrant hub for contemporary art in the Southwest

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MARFA, TX – An hour’s drive north of Ojinaga, Mexico, sits an isolated “little island of actors, writers, and artists of all kinds” as gallery owner, Ree Willaford, affectionately calls this west Texas town of 2,000 souls. Willaford is the owner, director and curator of Galleri Urbane, with locations here and in Dallas, specializing in contemporary art. In Marfa, the satellite exhibit lounge is located at the Thunderbird Hotel. Willaford and her family started in 1992 with “Contradiction,” an organic juice and coffee shop that also carried non-organic treats like tiramisu in historic Ybor City, the old Hispanic cigar-making district of Tampa, Florida. The Willaford family then moved to Silver City, New Mexico where Ree’s husband Jason, an artist, started open house showings with photographer Michael Burman.

The National Domestic Hotline states that 15 percent of Americans admit to having been in a domestic relationship that included violence. (Azucena Santos/Borderzine.com)

An abusive relationship can lead to physical and emotional violence

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EL PASO – On a regular workday, less than a year ago, Corina Rivera realized her life was in real danger. She had been the victim of physical and emotional abuse by her ex-boyfriend and now he was calling, wanting to meet with her to apologize for the “incidents” that had occurred in the last two months of their relationship. Rivera, 25, asked him to meet her in front of Wal-Mart. She thought a public place would be best. She noticed that he drove up in a car that was not his own.

Amanda Marie Cordero is looking forward to living her life how she always dreamed. (Michelle Blanks/Borderzine.com)

A new El Paso support group forms to help patients suffering from Vasculitis

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EL PASO – The bulky machine beside the young woman beeps in cadence with her heartbeat as a large IV bag pumps fluids into her body via the needle in her vein on her upper hand. The nurse comes into the room to check her vitals and remind the family of visiting hours. “You know I can’t even count the number of times I have been in and out of the hospital anymore,” said Amanda Marie Cordero, a 23 year old woman suffering from a “flair up” of Vasculitis, an auto immune disorder. According to the non-profit Vasculitis Foundation, the illness is a “condition that involves inflammation in the blood vessels.” It is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system begins to attack its own blood vessels. The exact causes of Vasculitis are unknown but can be attributed to numerous causes such as infection, medication or can be brought on by another condition or disease.

Giving a voice to immigration reform

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EL PASO – Downtown vendors stood motionless at the doorways of their stores and shoppers stopped in their tracks on an early afternoon in April. Only the faint protest of marchers could be heard heading up El Paso street, but with each step closer their voices became strong and loud. “Sí se puede. Yes we can!” they shouted, “Obama, escucha, estamos en la lucha (Listen Obama, we are in a struggle).”

BNHR, based in El Paso, is a human rights advocacy organization that is primarily active in immigration and border policy. The group which represents 700 families, helped organize this event, in addition to several others around the city.

"This star is part of a U.S. flag which flew proudly over El Paso, Texas. Keep this star and let it guide you home to the arms of a grateful nation." (David A. Reyes/Borderzine.com)

Veterans of an old war honor today’s soldiers

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EL PASO – Each of the 50 stars on a retired American flag is cut out into a rectangle and slid into a small plastic bag, accompanied by a message on a card and is given to soldiers being deployed to war zones by veterans who fought in the Vietnam War. The message, which the soldier keeps, reads,  “This star is part of a U.S. flag which flew proudly over El Paso, Texas. Keep this star and let it guide you home to the arms of a grateful nation.” “The most rewarding is giving them our appreciation for their service,” says veteran Miguel Fernandez, a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Wieland C. Norris Chapter 844. These pieces of the flag are given to soldiers headed overseas by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 844.

Paisano Green Community (Amber Watts/Borderzine.com)

El Paso struggles to fit families into public housing after sequestration cuts

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EL PASO – Families living in public housing will find their quarters shrinking as a result of the federal budget slashing known as the sequester, but local officials say they hope to avoid putting anybody out on the street. “We are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst,” said Shane Griffith, El Paso Housing Authority (HACEP) public information officer. HACEP had already been planning how to meet the needs here when the spending reductions cut of $85 billion in revenue to non-exempt domestic programs for the next 10 years were declared in late March. The housing assistance payment (HAP) standard, which is the federal subsidy allocated to landlords of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, has been reduced from a proration of 99 percent to 94 percent. The proration for the operating subsidy of the Public Housing Program – the funds HACEP receives to operate its 46 public housing properties – has been reduced from 92 percent to 77 percent.

Manuel Alvarado with one of his art pieces at San Eli's art district. (Kimberly Garcia/Borderzine.com)

Tales of Spanish conquistadores and Wild West gunslingers echo within San Eli’s adobe walls

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SAN ELISARIO, TX – Tales of a bygone Spanish colonial era and the gun slinging Wild West echo inside the ancient adobe walls of buildings in this small town half-an-hour drive east of El Paso. Outside one of the ancient structures, now an art gallery, Manuel Alvarado, a tall, slender man happily greets curious visitors. “The reason I like San Eli is because it’s calm, not so hectic like a bigger city,” said Alvarado. San Elizario, or San Eli as it is known to locals, has undergone a change. With the help of local artist Al Borrego, San Elizario has established itself as an art district.

After arriving at the shelter boys and girls experience a transformation. (Natassia Bonyanpur/Borderzine.com)

Praying for a city of peace and restoring faith in Juarez’s children

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El Paso – Momentous in stature, the white letters can be seen from each curve of the Rio Grande from the campus of The University of Texas at El Paso.  The tall white coated letters contrast against the opaque, rough terrain of the mountain that encompasses it. The painted words on the Ciudad Juarez’ hillside read, “ La Biblia es la verdad. Léela”. These words translate to ‘The bible is truth.

Protestors wore red and white shirts or masks at an April 6 protest. (Sarah A. Duenas/Borderzine.com)

Protesters make last-ditch effort to save El Paso’s ASARCO smokestacks

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EL PASO – A large red and white striped flag waved in the wind as protestors made last-ditch efforts to stop the demolition of the ASARCO smokestack, which was erected in 1966 by the bankrupt copper smelting company. After the plant was closed, the City Council decided on December 5, 2012 to take it and a second smaller chimney down. Because of environmental concerns and the company’s more than 100-year history in El Paso, protests ensued. The stacks are scheduled for demolition on April 13 at 6:30 a.m., but two groups – Save the Stacks and El Paso AWARE – are making last minute efforts to save the two structures. Geoffrey Wright, president of the Save the Stacks, said that the group has received support from various sources.

Arroyos like the one at UTEP are home to a wide variety of vegetation and wildlife such as the Yucca plants and skunks. (Paul Reynoso/Borderzine.com)

UTEP arroyo to benefit from campus transformation project

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EL PASO — Major changes are well under way at the University of Texas El Paso as the campus two-year pedestrian and environmental friendly transformation project takes shape. The landscape of the campus features an arroyo that runs primarily from the northeast side of campus near Miner Village down to the southwestern side by the Business Administration Building. This arroyo will be one of the focus points of change during the project. The project falls under UTEP’s master plan to dramatically improve the campus for the UTEP community and the students. There are seven segments of the transformation project such as pedestrian friendly pathways and additional green spaces.

Peatones caminan por un estrecho camino enseguida de Tienda Chihuahua, debido a las renovaciones que se están haciendo a la Avenida Juárez. (Cristina Esquivel/Borderzine.com)

Retratos de la frontera – Un café por Juárez

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Tienda Chihuahua (Audio)

TRANSCRIPCIÓN

(Sonidos de ambiente: tintineo de tazas, conversación en el fondo)

Cristina Esquivel (Reportera de Borderzine): Aunque lentos, Ciudad Juárez ha experimentando cambios positivos en el último año. En la zona central se llevan a cabo una serie de renovaciones que buscan mejorar la estructura urbana y reactivar la economía de la ciudad. Las calles se ven más transitadas y los negocios abren sus puertas a clientes locales y a turistas. Muchos de estos cambios se deben al esfuerzo de ciudadanos Juarenses que aman y defienden su ciudad. Socorro Arredondo es licenciada en derecho pero hace poco tiempo que decidió incursionar en el terreno de los negocios.

Thousands climb Mt. Cristo Rey to express their faith on Good Friday pilgrimage

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EL PASO — Lucille Maya remembers when her father carried her infant brother up Mt. Cristo Rey to ask for a miracle. Her brother was born with a birth defect and doctors told her family that he would never be able to walk, but soon after her father’s pilgrimage her little brother walked for the first time. “I do this for my faith.” said Maya, 73, who has been coming to Mt. Cristo Rey all her life.

Entrada el hotel París (izquierda) en el centro de Ciudad Juárez. (José Abraham Rubio Zamora/Borderzine.com)

La otra cara del trabajo sexual en Ciudad Juárez

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CD JUAREZ – A la entrada del Hotel París, un establecimiento situado en la parte alta de la calle La Paz, a unos cuantos metros del bullicioso Mercado Cuauhtémoc, a plena luz del día, se aposta Norma, una trabajadora sexual acompañada de Nancy. Un estrecho pasillo localizado entre la vieja cantina “El Puerto” y una tienda de ropa, sirve de acceso a los clientes que se dejan conducir hasta un conjunto de gastadas y derruidas habitaciones, siempre ocultas a la vista de los transeúntes y marchantas que diariamente recorren ese sitio en busca de algo. Confundidas entre el ruido propio del lugar y el anonimato que los puestos y tenderetes les brindan, ambas mujeres esperan que un hombre solicite sus servicios. Las dos son también madres de familia que necesitan por lo menos de un cliente para poder llevar algo de dinero a casa. “Qué más quisiera yo que trabajar en otra cosa.

U.S. Poet Laureate, Philip Levine, at a recent visit to the University of Texas at El Paso. (David A. Reyes/Borderzine.com)

U.S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine – A lifetime of giving a thundering voice to the voiceless

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EL PASO – Poet Laureate Philip Levine, still as fit and funny at age 85 as he was as a young man working the night shift at a car factory, shared his special brand of earthy, poignant and insightful poetry – and a sizable measure of good humored repartee ­– with over 1000 fans at UTEP recently. The poet of the working class, who was born in Detroit to poor Russian Jewish immigrant parents, began writing professionally in the early 1950’s and has been giving “a voice to the voiceless” ever since. His message and poetry resonated with his El Paso audience in a city that is predominately Hispanic and working class. Asked by Sociologist Gina Nuñez what he thinks of the billions spent by the U.S. government erecting walls along the 2000-mile border, Levine responded: “The worst walls are the ones we can’t see because we are erecting interior walls. You say they’re dividing families.

Friends of Aaron Carrillo are petitioning the permission to remember him at their commencement ceremony. (Jessica Neels/Borderzine.com)

Students challenge Montwood High’s unwillingness to remember a beloved classmate in this year’s commencement

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EL PASO – Aaron Carillo and Jon Cervoni had just left a band concert at their local church when their vehicle stalled. Then, a drunk driver speeding and swerving down the road hit them, taking their lives that hot summer night, July 8, 2011. Carillo was a student at Montwood High School. He was getting ready to begin his junior year when his life was ended abruptly. Many say he was a humble and genuine young man who believed strongly in Christian faith and righteous moral conduct.

Daniel Alvarado, owner and head trainer of PUSH Fitness and Athletic Training, with wrestlers. (Veronica Enriquez/Borderzine.com)

If strong is the new skinny for girls, buff makes it for guys

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EL PASO – Inside the gym, the song “Stronger” by Kanye West plays in the background and the music motivates 16-year-old Alexander Jimenez to try harder to fit the mold of an ideal male body. Jimenez, a high school sophomore, has trained every weekday at several local gyms vigorously since the age of nine for the purpose of staying healthy and looking trim. Day in and day out his efforts have paid off. Today he is the captain of the Franklin High School wrestling team that placed second at the state competition last month. “I’ve been helping him since he was 9 years old,” said Daniel Alvarado, owner and head trainer of PUSH Fitness and Athletic Training, and Jimenez’s coach.

Fernando Perales is the manager for El Paso’s newest and much-anticipated restaurant. (Luis Barrio/Borderzine.com)

New Jason’s Deli serves up a mantra of dedication to people, quality food and choice

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EL PASO – On a good day, he stands about 5’8’. He’s a man with noticeable confidence and charisma. Originally from McAllen, Texas, he finds himself along the Rio Grande once again after working at the Jason’s Deli in his hometown. This time he is in the Sun City managing a Jason’s Deli rather than cleaning dishes as in his first restaurant job with the national company. Fernando “Fern” Perales has the biggest responsibility for El Paso’s newest and much-anticipated restaurant.

The total cost of demolition, construction, and relocation of City Hall is expected to between 85 and 100 million dollars. (Paul Reynoso/Borderzine.com)

The demolition of City Hall and the rise of a new ballpark are already giving downtown El Paso a new identity

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EL PASO – In the coming months, downtown El Paso’s skyline will change dramatically as the City Hall building is expected to be demolished to make way for a new Triple-A ballpark that will open next year. But once demolition commences on City Hall and construction of the ballpark begins, the effects will be felt by downtown local businesses and streets that are adjacent to the City Hall area. The Insights Museum on N. Santa Fe St. is just one of many businesses that has already been greatly affected by the major changes. The museum, which first opened in 1980, has cleared out and has been closed for several weeks now.