Blurr Borders: Table of Contents

Issues, Impacts AND Solutions: Human Services

Issue
Binational Impact
Solution

Increase in rural crossings from Mexico by undocumented immigrants, due to tighter checks at official crossing points

Increase in the use of emergency care by undocumented immigrants after suffering injuries or trauma in their attempt to cross into the U.S..

The San Diego-based NGO "Border Angels" is providing water stations for undocumented migrants crossing throug the desert in the Imperial Valley. San Diego based, American Friends Services' Border Program focuses on the defense of migrant human and civil rights, farm labor rights, and the monitoring of federal Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Border Patrol policies and practices, and other law enforcement agencies. Casa YMCA del Menores Migrantes in Tijuana provides shelter and counseling for Mexican migrant youth that get deported back to Mexico.

Growing incidence of poverty and slums (colonias populares) across Greater Tijuana. Over 1/2 of all new growth in Tijuana is in squatter communities

Contributes to unhealthy living conditions that leads to substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect.

This remains a very challenging problem but NGOs like Esperanza and Los Niños are promoting more livable communities through community empowerment programs including micro-credit availability among under-served communities in Tijuana. Esperanza, Project Mercy and several church based oranizations in San Diego are assisting with the buildng of low cost housing and day care facilities. The Border Arts Workshop is providing arts enrichment programs for children and youth of the community of Maclovio Rojas in Tijuana and has helped in the construction of a women's center. Promocion y Docencias, A.C. is providing community outreach programs in Southern Tijuana.

Large numbers of two-parent working adults and single family households working multiple jobs in order to make ends meet in many under served communities of both San Diego and Tijuana.

Rising number of working poor in both San Diego and Tijuana, particularly among workers and families of Mexican origin. Increase in the number of latch key kids without meaningful after school programs on both sides of the border. Family counseling to minimize the risks of child abuse/neglect. After School programs such as those of the Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, MAC Project, Casa Familiar go a long way to addressing the needs of San Diego's migrant families. Locally, the San Diego Living Wage Campaign is dedicated to securing livable wages for the thousands of low-wage workers in the San Diego regional economy.

Poverty leads to greater susceptibility among poor to becoming exploited victims of crime, prostitution, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and the sex trade.

The trafficking of humans, drugs and the prostitution are growing binational concerns with transnational organized crime syndicates exploiting the poor and disenfranchised from the United States, Mexico and third countries.

Support for abused women and children, particularly those that are victims of domestic violence, prostitution and the sex trade.
Lack of affordable housing in San Diego for the region's migrant working poor.

Leads to increased overcrowding and a growing number of migrants living in migrant worker camps. Also decreases the disposable net income that migrants are able to remit back to their communities of origin in Mexico.

Encinitas based Las Casitas has been providing more affordable adobe shelters for migrant worrkers and Carlsbad based La Posada Casa Guadalupe has been providing shelter to homeless migrant workers at their 50-bed facility. Carsbad based Ecumenical Migrant Outreach Project has also provided advocacy for migrant workers made homeless from the dismantling of migrant worker camps.

Growing incidence of Mexican undocumented inmates in the California prison system

Deported ex-offenders lead to increased incidence of crime in Tijuana. Recidivism rate among these Mexican undocumented ex-offenders is also over 80%.

This issue is currently not being addressed by any non profit in either San Diego or Tijuana.