On the Other Side – Stories of Deportation
In 2014, around 250,000 Mexicans were deported from the United States. More than 60 000 were left in Tijuana, Mexico, a border city between Mexico-United States where life is a gamble of will, luck, thievery and police arrest. The border between Tijuana and San Diego is the busiest land crossing in the world. Sixty percent of the deportees come from the south of Mexico. Given that they have failed to cross the border successfully, the majority do not want to return home to their families because of the shame they will have to endure. Nor do they want to return to the south where the cartel violence is rife. After all, families have fled to avoid the violence, hoping to seek asylum and protection in the US. For these reasons, deportees remain in “el Bordo”, Tijuana.
There are three types of migrants living in Tijuana: migrants who are planning to cross the border, deportees attempting to cross again, and deportees who do not want to cross the border again nor do they want to return home. The living conditions in el Bordo are poor. Holes are made in the streets of Tijuana, building informal camps in the style of bunkers with dirty water flooding the areas. Some deportees have lived in these bunkers for years with no intention of leaving. They survive by recycling plastics from the sewers, begging in the streets, cleaning cars or stealing. Access to cheap drugs, such as crystal meth and heroine, is also easy. Many succumb to drug addiction to cope with the loneliness, lack of jobs and the unacceptable conditions their lives have become.
A number of local churches and charities work in Tijuana to help migrants recover from deportation, get off the streets, and reintegrate into society. Among these organizations is El Desayunador Salesiano del Padre Chava which is a program that offers daily meals, clean clothes and shower as well as health and psychology services and a drug recovery program. Another organization called Casa del Migrante helps deportees return to their hometowns by offering a bus ride or flight, which is supported by the Mexican government since there is pressure from US authorities to avoid recidivist illegal migrants. In 1984 a new border was erected in Tijuana in addition to the existing one. Since then, about 6000 migrants have died due to the new border. The new border has high technology detectors sensors, night vision cameras and more border patrols, making the border crossing more and more difficult. This has pushed the flux of illegal migrants from the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan border to the east of Tijuana into the backcountry of the Mountain Empire. The region consists of rugged terrains and foothills where border fences and controls are less vigilant. On this route, migrants attempt to cross miles and miles of mountains and desert with countless dangers along the way, such as kidnapping by the cartels, rape, snakes and extreme cold and hot weather.
The Mexican government is actively trying to end el Bordo. Forty-percent of the Tijuana migrants are currently planning to cross the border to the US. Many are waiting for an “el coyote” to provide them with a ride or crucial information about the border patrol rotations before attempting to cross. Despite the dangerous attempts and consequences awaiting these migrants at el Bordo, they have high hopes of a better life on the other side.
Tijuana, Mexico. January 2015
Photos and Text: Francois Razon
- View of the border going to the sea under strict US surveillance. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- Each cross represents each Mexican who died in the attempt of crossing the border since the new fence that was built in 1984. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- Since 2006 the US placed a second border to dissuade the crossing of the security fence. Night vision camera and movement detectors have been put in place. Surveillance patrolling is constant on the US side. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- Families are often separated by the border due the deportation. Visit are allowed and controlled by the US government under strict surveillance through the fence only. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- Child placed in a foster family in the US ilooks through the border fence at her mother deported to tijuana. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- Deportees wait in line for a daily meal at Casa del Padre Chave, a church for homeless who have been deported from US. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- A child looks for rubbish to recycle in sewers. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- A young couple that has been deported from the USA and separated from their daughter is living in poor condition in the canal, el Bordo. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- A deported man who lives stuck in a tent in the Canal, El Bordo. His doll represents his family. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- The tunnel of El Bordo at the canal is the safest place for trading and taking drugs. Access to cheap drugs, such as crystal meth and heroine, is easy. Many succumb to drug addiction to cope with the loneliness, lack of jobs and the unacceptable conditions their lives have become. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- A migrant is washing car windshields in the street of Tijuana for a living. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- An ex Gang member who was deported for crimes in the US. Now he lives in the streets of Tijuana. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- Many of the deported migrants end with drug addiction. Access to cheap drugs, such as crystal meth and heroine, is easy. Many succumb to drug addiction to cope with the loneliness, lack of jobs and the unacceptable conditions their lives have become. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- Many of the deported migrants end with drug addiction. Access to cheap drugs, such as crystal meth and heroine, is easy. Many succumb to drug addiction to cope with the loneliness, lack of jobs and the unacceptable conditions their lives have become. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- Migrants are held in prison by Mexican police after being deported. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- Migrants living en el bordo, Tijuana after having being deported form Fresnel, USA some 5 years ago. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- Adan lives en el Bordo where he was deported more than 2 years ago. He’s addicted to drugs and makes a living begging in the streets. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- A family in Tijuana tried to cross the border with no success and now lives in the street. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- Juan has been invited by his uncle to go to the YMCA in California. For a better life he waits for an opportunity to cross the border. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon
- A Man is looking for his friend deported few weeks ago and went missing. Tijuana, Mexico. Jan 2015. Photo by Francois Razon