Day 4: The Beauty and The Terror

A quiet day on the border - no politicians, no 100's of military visible.

Beautiful Palo Verde trees, hot hot hot and windy.

Most refugees are either stuck across the border or being violently tortured, raped, robbed, and then refused entry into Mexico at the Chiapas/Guatemala border.

Of course, if they've been lucky enough to get a CBP One appointment, they'd be allowed into Mexico, mostly penniless, extorted, wounded, and attempt to travel up the length of Mexico to Monterey border.

Most never make it in time for their appointment so they are left stranded, not allowed to reapply or to explain what has prevented them from presenting themselves at the border crossing.

The largest migrant shelter said they are housing maybe 100 to 150 migrants a day, as compared to 2000 refugees a few months ago.

Large Eagle statue on the Mexico side on the path to the footpath across the 'international' bridge.

Old iron door and adobe walls of a house in Piedras Negras

The amazing unique and beautiful Palo Verde tree

Two soldiers - used to be just one - sitting down on top of container 'wall'. They seem to appear when we arrive. Usually they are standing & walking back & forth along the top - which must be incredibly hot & difficult because it appears to have fencing laid on top plus it is so hot, even for us in the shade.

Double high container, everywhere is there is 'only' one layer of container. We're guessing that maybe because of the tree there, the military doesn't want it to be too easy to launch off the tree, fly over concertina razors, & land on top of a single container, not guaranteeing great bodily harm jumping down from the height of a single one.

This ugly armored vehicle is positioned at the very edge of the park boundary and the beginning of the downtown business district, facing the people of Eagle Pass. I can't tell if it's meant to intimidate them or strike macho pride. As an almost 100% population of brown peoples, I think maybe the former.

No way will I ever believe that this is not some relative of the governor who owns a concertina razor factory for how else do you explain this ridiculous abundance of concertina razors on the top of the walkway across the Bridge, on the walk into Mexico. Who could possibly climb up at least 30+feet from the middle of the river, hoist themselves an additional 12 or so feet to land on a walkway leading away from the u.s. into Mexico? Why? More likely a blatant reminder to those crossing into Mexico they will never walk freely while affirming our great mean abilities to those from the u.s.

I can't help but take more pictures of not only the beautiful Palo Verde tree but the beautiful side of Mexico,contrasting so drastically with the u.s. side.