Fronteras: A Changing America

Undocumented Immigrant Deaths Spike At Border

Crossing the border may be more dangerous than ever before.

A study released Tuesday by The National Foundation for American Policy suggests an immigrant attempting to cross illegally into the United States is eight times more likely to die in the attempt than a decade ago.

As it stands, immigration reform hinges on a secure border. But measurements to evaluate overall conditions and security are as opaque as ever.

In 2010, James Dinkins, the executive associate director for homeland security investigations at ICE told Congress he had started a process “to completely redo our performance measures.”

Tijuana’s 18 cases of meningitis, including six deaths, are about three times more than the city typically sees in a year. In San Diego County, where an average of nine cases per year are reported, there have been two cases and one death in recent weeks.

A 39-year-old man died earlier this week, while a one-year-old child was hospitalized late last month and is recovering.

TUCSON, Ariz. — It’s been obvious for some time that law enforcement will monitor social media accounts for signs of illegal activity or criminals.

In fact, it makes sense when you stop to consider the brazenness of people’s online activities.

Mexico continues to be the most popular tourist destination for the Americans traveling abroad. But the two largest points of entry for tourists — border crossings and ports for cruise ships — have seen dwindling numbers in the past few years.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — President Barack Obama is pushing for an increase to the national minimum wage. If passed by Congress, the pay rate would jump from $7.25 per hour to $9.00. That jump would directly impact many in the Latino community.

Irasema Cavazos is a San Antonio home health care worker who makes more than the national minimum wage.

As I reported a story this week on the start of an historic trial of a former Guatemalan dictator, all the reasons I was first captivated by that country (and still am) came flooding back.

SAN DIEGO — Several beaches along the Tijuana-San Diego border are closed due to a sewage spill, however the extent of the spill remains unknown.

WiLDCOAST, a conservation non-profit in Imperial Beach, reported Tuesday that a sewage treatment plant in Tijuana had a collapsed collector and shattered line that resulted in pollutants dumping into the ocean at two liters a second, or 45,600 gallons in 24 hours.

EL PASO, Texas — A book of short stories about the U.S./Mexico border is this year's winner of the PEN/Faulkner literary award. The author, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, is the first Latino awarded the prize.

SAN DIEGO — The Tijuana/San Diego architecture firm CRO Studios built a modern library in the flood-prone urban development known as Camino Verde in Tijuana.

Crossing the border may be more dangerous than ever before.

A study released Tuesday, by The National Foundation for American Policy suggests an immigrant attempting to cross illegally into the United States is eight times more likely to die in the attempt than a decade ago.

There’s a fascinating debate going on in the U.S. media about whether or not Mexico is truly emerging as the next economic powerhouse. Interesting, that this debate seems to coincide with a concerted public relations campaign initiated by the new regime in Mexico City to change the conversation about Mexico.