Every day, thousands of people cross the Tijuana-San Diego border, only to be met with a four-year wait for a new and faster port of entry. The Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, expected to begin operating by 2024, has been delayed until 2026 and may not open until 2028. Meanwhile, the lines of cars and pedestrians grow for miles every morning in Tijuana, with no regard for the time of day or weather.
As someone who has lived a cross-border life myself, I can attest to the challenges that come with being a transfronteriza (a commuter who regularly crosses the border). My own experiences began when my mother would drive me from Tijuana to Imperial Beach every weekday to attend school. Despite the long lines and tedious process, we managed to make it work.
However, my mother’s decision to stop taking me to school in San Diego was largely due to an unpleasant encounter with an immigration agent who questioned her about her tourist visa and threatened to take away her documents. This experience taught me that even innocent individuals can be treated unfairly at the border.
Despite this, I believe that my early education in English helped me become bilingual and opened doors for me to become a contributing member of society. As a cross-border commuter, I’ve witnessed firsthand how border security has changed over the years, and the long lines have become the new normal for tourists, students, and workers waiting to cross.
Now, as a professional with a degree from the northern side of the border, I continue to commute back and forth. While some may question whether this lifestyle is worth it, I can attest that it is. Thousands of binational students and their parents, as well as 54,000 workers who cross the border every day, think so too. It’s our right to pursue a better life.
Unfortunately, many social media comments aim to degrade those who choose the transfronterizo life. Instead, we should be showing empathy and understanding for those who make this difficult commute daily. We are not just statistics or numbers; we are individuals with valid reasons for crossing the border. It’s time to recognize our struggles and respect our right to pursue a better life.
By Tania Navarro
Source: San Diego Tribune
