Each of the last three U.S. presidents has left an imprint in Tijuana, Mexico. First, Bill Clinton approved the construction of a 10 foot wall along the border. Second, George W. Bush built a militarized border wall that came after Sept. 11, 2001.Third, there is a concrete riverbed that once held the flowing waters of Tijuana’s main river that is now home to hundreds of people deported by Pres. Barack Obama. Obama deported more people than any other president in history, an estimated 2.5 million people. Now, Trump looking to follow up on his campaign promise to build a wall along the United States and Mexico border.
Trump’s racist rhetoric made it seem as if a wall along the U.S. and Mexico border did not already exist. But that’s a lie. There is a primary wall, 10 feet tall, that was approved in the 1990s under Bill Clinton. A secondary wall that stands 18 feet tall was approved under President George W. Bush. Right now, Trump has eight wall prototypes complete in San Diego; eight towering walls along the border patrol enforcement zone in Otay Mesa. The prototypes are only steps away from the original walls; the most obvious difference is the height as each of the eight new prototypes walls exceed 30 feet.
Following up on the president’s racist campaign promise to ‘build the wall’ the Department of Homeland Security funded the work of six private contractors to build the eight prototype walls. They are: W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company, ELTA North America Inc., Caddell Construction Co., Texas Sterling Construction Co., KWR Construction and Fisher Sand & Gravel Co.
On July 27, the House passed a spending bill that complies with Trump’s demands to start work on the wall along the border. Republican leaders added $1.6 billion in border-wall funding. Trump threatened to shut down the federal government if Congress refused to send him a spending bill that funds the wall he promised during his presidential campaign. Yet at the same time, Congress just allowed the Children’s Health Insurance Program to expire–a program that provided low-cost health insurance to 9 million children –exposing the moral priority of the United States Congress.
During the week, you can spot border patrol officials “testing” the wall for its durability by throwing things at each wall to see they can penetrate it. In addition, you’ll see officials trying to climb the wall using rope while others watch and take notes. All of this is taking place within walking distance of the border walls that already exist and within eyesight of Tijuana residents. The placement of these prototypes is just another intimidation tactic used by U.S. border patrol towards Tijuana residents.
Taken together, the new border wall combined with the proposed Pentagon budget, and attacks on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Temporary Protected Status programs–this administration is increasing attacks on the immigrant community as did previous administrations. These attacks are giving the immigrant community no other option but to organize themselves in the streets. The lessons learned from these struggles will continue to enrich the labor movement in the United States as the working class grows larger and more multinational every day.
