Learning more: Boquillas del Carmen on the border

Although for years I have been reading about the border situation with Mexico, it never impacted as much until we drove along it for a few weeks. This is post is my research into more about the border. I will update as I learn more.

 

Rio Grande 

Absolutely scary is the fact that Mexico, and consequently the border, has become very dangerous. This, along with the possibility of terrorists entering via Mexico, has made necessary current border policies. There are many news articles on the net documenting the violence along the border. Here is one sad account "The Deadliest Place In Mexico: Who's killing the people of the Juarez Valley?" from The Texas Observer published on Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

Boquillas del Carmen and Victor
We were right across from Boquillas del Carmen, a Mexican village traditionally connected to Big Bend National Park, which essentially died when the border crossing was closed in 2002. Most of the residents had to move away because the nearest town to them in Mexico is extremely far away and they could no longer shop at the camp store in Big Bend and they lost income from visiting tourists who crossed over the Rio Grande to visit them to buy tacos and hand-crafted souvenirs. Most of the young people, especially families, have left to find work either in Mexico or in some in the states (some of the villagers are US citizens).

It is an easy trek into the canyon. You will probably meet some of the villagers. The scenery is well worth the walking. I overcame my fear of the possibility of meeting the Mountain Lion, because he is more common at the higher altitudes, like where the Lodge is located. However, locals will tell you that the Mountain Lion can be found anywhere.    

 

Overlooking the Rio Grande near Boquillas del Carmen 

Among the few trying to save Boquillas del Carmen is Victor. We met him and listened to rendition of "Cielito Lindo". 

  
Listen to NPR's radio interview with him "Rio Grande Town Fights for Survival" (November 23, 2007) to get a real feeling of what the situation is in Boquillas del Carmen. Alternately read transcript.
To see what it was like before the border was closed see Texas State Senator Jim Bates' YouTube video "Boquillas Boat Ride" Crossing the Rio Grande/Bravo from Big Bend National Park to Boquillas, Mexico in November of 2001. Technically the vid is not good, but I found it very interesting. Comments are interesting too.
For more information, photos, videos, blogs about Victor Valdez, the singing Mexican of Boquillas del Carmen, google  "victor valdez" boquillas. 

For in depth articles about the border and Boquillas del Carmen, search The Texas Observer for articles about Boquillas. ---

Who Is Coming Across the Border Illegally?
For the most part the illegals are crossing to work. Because the US economy is in such a slump, less Mexicans are coming. Less than half the illegals are Mexican. However Central Americans continue to come at great risk. See Washington Post article  "Non-Mexican migrants make up slight majority of Border Patrol apprehensions in Texas" dated December 21, 2012.



Learning More - cougars, recipes and border