June 8, 2012 Border Beat
Photographer Monica Lozano captures courageous people in Juarez; Border Patrol rescues on the rise, and more.
Deeper Deportations
Undocumented immigrants from Mexico arrested in the United States may be getting deported deeper into Mexico instead of to border cities.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Mexican Interior Secretary Alejandro Poire signed a memorandum aiming for safer and more humane treatment when transporting undocumented immigrants back to Mexico after being apprehended in the United States.
Typically, migrants are released in border cities. However, very often they make dangerous repeat attempts to re-enter the United States. DHS officials hope that by making deeper transports into Mexico, migrants will less likely make the dangerous illegal crossings into the U.S.
DHS also warns that during the summer months it is much more risky to cross the border illegally, due to extreme heat in the desert.
Border Patrol Rescues On the Rise
Between October 1, 2011 and May 31, U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued 577 undocumented immigrants in health distress.
During the same time last year, they had rescued 435.
The rise is due to human smugglers transporting migrants in more dangerous terrain and in more extreme conditions, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
U.S. Border Patrol agents conduct rescues using a special unit called BORSTAR (Search, Trauma Rescue).
Recently two undocumented immigrants called for help saying they were lost on Otay Mountain outside of San Diego. Customs and Border Protection officials said they were dehydrated and had had nothing to eat or drink for three days.
Border Patrol located the two migrants and transported them to a nearby hospital. They were treated and later processed at a Border Patrol station.
During fiscal year 2011, U.S. Border Patrol Agents had rescued 1,070 undocumented immigrants.
Cross-Border Art Project gives hope for Juárez
An artist from Ciudad Juárez makes a homecoming to promote “Inside Out Juárez.”
The Inside Out Project collects black-and-white photos of people from around the world to showcase different personalities and promote positivity.
Monica Lozano, a contributing artist to the project, was born in El Paso but raised in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico and is a contemporary photographer who has taken photos of people who live in border cities around the world.
Lozano strives to display the courage and beauty of people who live in dangerous border areas.
“I really like to focus on the positive side and remind people that, you know, this is not our only face. You know, not only the violent side is happening. We also have this beautiful aspect of the people’s strength and how we go on,” said Lozano.
She says the exercise of people smiling for her portraits has given help to those who have experienced tragedy due to the war on drugs. “We are trying to show this other aspect that exists in Juárez,” she added.
More than 9,500 people have been killed related to drug violence in Juárez since 2008, according to the Mexican government.
Photos in the project will also be exchanged with many other supporting countries, including the United States in Austin, Texas. People can also submit photos of their own to participate in the project on insideoutproject.net.
The worldwide project started 10 years ago.
The portraits will be posted once again throughout Ciudad Juárez and along the US/Mexico border this fall.
French artist “JR” started the Inside Out Project.
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