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Immigration facts

Tijuana BorderBy Adina Moloman

Source: New York Times

The latest statistics are showing a significant drop in the number of migrants illegally crossing the border with Mexico. The decrease in illegal crossers —down to about 340,000 migrants apprehended in 2011 from a peak of 1.1 million in 2005 registered across all Border States with Mexico. At Tijuana Border in the 1990’s it was registered 600,000 cases of migrants attempted to cross the border illegally, comparing to less that 20 percent, the cases registered in the last three years.

Different measures had to do with this, but also it is an economic circumstance (the economic crises) and perhaps all the pressure and the attention on this issue when different Border States are trying to impose their own state immigration low above the federal low.

The measures to prevent illegal immigrants consists in allocated  a huge budget to build fences, the expansion of the Border Patrol to more than 21,000 agents, the highest number in its history, investment on new technology (remote video surveillance systems and seven unmanned drones), etc.

Even when this drop is significant the Arizona State  has been the epicenter for crossings by illegal immigrants and gets all the federal attention when this state decided to pass its own immigration State low. This issue was presented in a previous article a few months ago. So far the Arizona Immigration Low (SB1070) has been detained mostly because controlling immigration is a federal responsibility.

The situation is tense and stronger punishments are getting the persons who repeatedly re-entered United States illegally, it was registered cases when they get 10-year term in Arizona.

The consequences of approving this low are not desirable for the illegal immigrants because they won’t be having access to most public benefits education or health care, when schools and hospitals t will be forced to ask for proof of citizenship. Other consequences: the impossibility from obtaining any state licenses, including those for marriage; landlords would be forced to evict immigrant families; drivers to be proved illegal would face 30 days in jail and forfeit the vehicle to the state.

Sixteen States around the nation of them sided with Arizona, while 11 supported the federal government. Arizona’s immigration law has inspired similar lows and measures in Georgia, Alabama, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah.

In various occasions since 2010 this low was dismissed but the final ruling is expected  this June and  in the opinion of experts may be  a split decision between federals and state authorities.

Maquiladora Industry

2012 The Charles Nathanson Memorial Award for Cross-Border Region Building

Tijuana Border CrossingBy Adina Moloman

Sources: www.examiner.com, www.leadsandiego.org

The Charles Nathanson Memorial Award for Cross-Border Region Building (San Diego – Baja California) is a special award to recognize binational visionary leaders, which are dedicating their work in finding joint solutions to cross-border issues.

Last year winners of The Charles Nathanson Memorial Award for Cross-Border Region Building were Jose Galicot Behar and Alejandro Bustamante, well known business leaders and promoters of the event “Tijuana Innovadora”.

This year Hugo Eduardo Torres was the recipient of the Charles Nathanson Memorial Award for Cross-Border Region Building at the 10th Annual Visionary Awards. The ceremony took place in San Diego this May 24, in the presence of top leaders from both sides of the border.

Hugo Eduardo Torres is a Former Two-time Mayor of Rosarito, Baja California (his first term was in 1995-1998 and the second term between 2007 and 2010). In this second term he gave a special attention to security issues, when he organized the entire police department and replaced 60% of the force and invested in higher training standards.

This award is life time recognition of being active in bi-national and regional issues, where most of them are touristic and civic achievements.

Among his achievements: he was the first elected President of the Tourism and Convention Committee, founded the Grupo Madrugadores citizen’s group, formed the Comite Pro-Municipio de Rosarito which over a 12 year course under his leadership led to the incorporation of the City of Rosarito and independence from Tijuana; he has an active involvement in working with expatriates and migrants returned at the Tijuana Border Crossing; and also donated a facility for the establishment of the Rosarito Boys and Girls Club.

Other than his touristic and civic achievements he has a strong active presence at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and at the San Diego Association of Governments.

Tijuana Border

Personalities of the Second Encounter Tijuana Innovadora 2012

Tijuana BorderBy Adina Moloman

Source: www.tijuanainnovadora.com

The Second edition Tijuana Innovadora 2012 is schedule from October 11 to 21 at the Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT). Like the previous edition many interesting topics will be presented such as: Green Tijuana, Cinematography, Tijuana Youth, Media, Citizen Participation, Strategic Design, Culinary Arts, Electronics, Automotive, Business Excellence, Aerospace, Science and Technology, Leadership, Entrepreneurs, Human Development and Conscience, Digital City, Philanthropy, Nobel Laureates and Innovators, and Metropolitan Development Plan.

Many personalities from different areas of interest will attend the event as speakers, but so far we will focus on a brief presentation over the ones that confirmed their presence.

The co-founder of Apple, Steve Wosniak, is a public figure, who needs no introduction. He will lead the program of speakers.

Natalie Jeremijenko is a mix of an artist with an engineer. She is currently an Associate Professor at NYU in the Visual Art Department, and also she has conducted studies at the Computer Science department and Environmental Department. Her studies involve this interesting combination between environment and technology, ranked as one of 100 brightest minds from the MIT.

Mexican architect Enrique Norten, the founder of the design firm TEN Arquitectos (Taller de Enrique Norten Arquitectos) also confirmed his presence at the Tijuana Innovadora event. For his architectural projects and his contribution to the US arts he received many awards such as: “Excellence in Architecture and Design Award” “Legacy Award” “Leonardo da Vinci” World etc.

Richard Florida also confirmed his presence in October at Tijuana Border town event. He is the author of Global Best Sellers “Rise of the Creative Class” and “Who’s Your City?”.

The environmentalist Alexandra Cousteau, the granddaughter of the well known French explorer and filmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau confirmed her conference at this second encounter.

Carlos Sanchez, Mexican car designer, borned in Mexico City but raised in Tijuana also confirmed his presence and his master conference at the event. He gained his experience at the VW plant in Puebla and now he is the coordinator of transportation design department and assistant chief designer at Italdesign, a prestigious auto design Italian company.

Tijuana Border

European and Japan delegations visits Tijuana

Tijuana BorderBy Adina Moloman

Sources: Europa.eu, Tijuana EDC

This week, Delegation of commercial representatives from the Embassies of European Union visited Tijuana. The members of the European delegation were representatives of the European Union and 16 ministers of European countries such as Austria, Belgium, Finland, Denmark, Poland, Spain, Sweden, UK, France and Denmark.  A second Asian delegation with representatives of the Society of Japanese multinational companies such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Sumitomo Precision Products, Shin-Maywa Industries, Sumitomo Corporation, Hitachi Metals and the International Aircraft Development Fund also visited Tijuana.

Their hosts were local and state authorities, nonprofit business organizations and representatives of Baja California Aerospace Cluster. State Government of Baja California opened the event with the participant of Tijuana Mayor.

The main purpose of this visit is to identify business opportunities at San Diego –Tijuana Border region.

A day before (14, 15 may) European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani together with European CEOs from all main industrial sectors visited Mexico. The European delegation in México was received by the Minister of Economy Bruno Ferrari and his staff. Both delegations signed   letters of intent to improve business and industrial cooperation. A more specifically attention was given to improving industrial cooperation in general and in particular in the fields of raw materials and aerospace.

European Union delegation it Tijuana it’s not a coincidence. I believe the intention is parts of the same strategic mission named “Missions for Growth” to help European enterprises, in particular small and medium sized enterprises “to better profit” from fast growing emerging international markets. Their next stop diplomatic mission is in Colombia.

Back in Tijuana the two delegations were interested in understanding the economic and industrial integration between Baja California-California regions.

Mexico representatives in Tijuana make sure to present all the strategic and logistic advantages of the region and their local capabilities and industrial infrastructure.

Tijuana- San Diego binational recycling programs

Tijuana- San Diego binational recycling programs

Tijuana MaquiladorasBy Adina Moloman

Sourcing: Economic Development, San Diego Union tribune, Cal Recycling

As I mention in an article before, the cities of San Diego and Tijuana share many common economic, cultural, environmental, social and security projects.

There are different commissions that are attending and promote joint projects, such as Binational Planning and Cooperation Committee, a group formed by the cities in 1993. Back then they proposed a binational recycling zone along the border at Otay Mesa. Those recycling programs where thinking considering the different recycling commodities that can be available in the Tijuana-San Diego region, where many of US multinational companies are established as Tijuana Maquiladoras.

There is more about the San Diego/Tijuana Binational Recycling Market Development Zone such as: investigation of the recycling industry at San Diego- Tijuana Border, research on customs regulations regarding recyclable materials, etc. The idea of this recycling zone has not only an environmental purpose, also has an economic one, and is to generate new businesses and create new jobs.

It hasn’t been an easy job so far, while San Diego has a more advanced recycling culture, Tijuana has had a first large recycling program in the early 1990’s; starting with recycling aluminium, glass, cardboard, paper,  plastic, etc.  The cooperation with California was important because Tijuana sometimes has problems finding buyers for the materials.

With the idea of this zone san Diego- Tijuana industrial companies can benefit from local government incentives, benefits from local permit processes, benefiting from lower taxes and licensing.

Those projects are extremely useful but also needs a better coordination between the participants and a lot of investment.

There are a few improvements, a successful case is Kyocera, which operates multiple divisions in San Diego and has a manufacturing plant in Tijuana, was awarded for more than a dozen times for its recycling efforts.

Tijuana Border

Innovative water technologies in Baja California

Tijuana BorderBy Adina Moloman

Sources: SEDECO, Renewable Energies

Baja California Governor, Osuna Millan, concluded a tour in Israel, to see the latest innovative irrigation systems and other innovative water technologies.

Israel is well known as a global leader in innovative water technology, especially for agricultural use.

This innovative water technologies consists is drip irrigation, water recycling, reclamation, wastewater reuse and desalination.

The governor visited the world’s largest desalination plant, in Israel, the Hadera plant, which started operations in 2009 and can generate 127 million cubic meters of water a year.

Israel was willing to transfer water technology to Baja California for use in the agriculture sector, especially in Valle de Mexico.

There was two signed agreements, the first one with NETAFIM and the second with MEKOROT representatives.

Israeli Company NETAFIM is leader on irrigation technology worldwide, and invented drip irrigation. The agreement with this company is to provide irrigation technology on a hundred hectares surface in Valle de Mexicali. The company is well known for its research in order to identify innovative water technologies and bringing them to the use in countries including Africa, Latin America, India and Eastern Europe.

The Mekorot National Water Company is a leader company when it comes to desalination. After this visit there is a possibility that Mekarot is going to build a wastewater reuse plant in Tijuana Border town. This might increase the number on Tijuana Manufacturing jobs.

Over the last years there was another attempt to build a desalination plant in Baja California by the Spanish company that won contract to build Ensenada desalination plant, which has been sold to South Korean corporation and is expected to start the project in 2013. The contract consisted in design, build and operate a reverse-osmosis desalination plant in the port of Ensenada that could produce 250 liters of water a second (0.25 cubic meters).

Tijuana Maquiladoras

Tijuana Reborn, reality or fiction

Tijuana MaquiladorasBy Adina Moloman

For those who lives or visits this border town city it is absolutely amazing noticing a change in the atmosphere.

Not that long time ago, Tijuana Border town known for its violence caused by drug trafficking gangs or for its gambling and prostitution reputation starting in the 1920’s,  is experiencing right now a new cultural, economic and technological transformation.

Nevertheless how I mentioned in an article before could be a consequence of the arrangements between two powerful criminal groups, the Arellano Felix clan, which had controlled Tijuana’s trafficking routes for the last two decades, and the new arrived and in charged, controlling the Pacific route, the Sinaloa Cartel.

After many years of battles between those two powerful groups, when in Tijuana it was almost daily news shooting and murdered gang members hanged around the city, apparently Arellano Felix group decided to cooperate with the Sinaloa Cartel and this entire terror image suddenly starts to slow down.

But the impressive thing is that different cultural, business groups, industrial groups where coordinating themselves and trying to make a difference for the city.

It is so common right now to assist to new expositions, art galleries, book fairs, the Baja California Orchestra functions, new theatre premiers, concerts, etc. And that’s not all, young people which enjoys “fiesta” can go with no restriction to the new reborn Sixth avenue, downtown Tijuana, where a few blocks are invading with new bars and restaurants where one can listen from rock to jazz, electronic music to salsa or northern rhythms. This is an experience for young medium class population in my opinion, but there is also arising a new concept of Tijuana gastronomic corridor where new world class restaurants are more impressive than ever. As a consequence it also was given a demand for new and modern night clubs and disco’s, where the high society from this region which actually before were forced by the situation to cross the border and have fun in San Diego, right know are finding a good service here in Tijuana.

There is also a big effort from different powerful local business groups to organize technological events or centers to attract foreign direct investments in order to appropriate new technologies to local host firms. I’m talking about the Tijuana Innovadora movement or the construction of Baja Innovation and Technology Center.

On the other hand industry is more organized; Tijuana Maquiladoras are working in clusters. There is coordination between different government institutions, private institutions, industrial organisms, universities and technological centers which are working in an articulated way with the multinational corporations established at the border in order to get the priorities strength. Many of them are making the effort to promote the region and are focusing specially on strengthening the aerospace and medical clusters.

There is also another group which is more skeptical regarding the calmness around the city, but I believe that is important the continuity of the effort that all this different local groups are doing.

Tijuana Border

Mexicans living abroad and the Federal Electoral Process in 2012

Tijuana Border By Adina Moloman

Sources: The Economist

This year will take place the Mexican presidential election on July 1, but there is one aspect that continues to be a work in progress and that  is the vote of the Mexicans living abroad.

A voter registration card is required to vote in Mexico. The law mentions that a registration card can only be issued on Mexican territory by the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE).

The majority of Mexican citizens living abroad who are eligible to vote might not do this because they cannot return to the country either because of their legal status or the cost to make the trip.

So much work remains to be done because democratic rights are not fully extended by the Mexican government to Mexicans voting abroad.

Sources from The Economist are seeing this as a political strategy for not simplifying the electoral process. First of all The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), has its concerns over making this process more efficient and transparent because  in 2006 it won 22% of the national vote, but just 4% of those cast by Mexicans abroad.

2006 was the last Mexican presidential election and the first time the Mexican government, through IFE, enabled Mexicans outside the country to vote.

The majorities of Mexican abroad are located in United States and are considered to be around 12 millions a little bit more that 10% of the total Mexican population.

The majority are likely from California. The solution for the Mexican in California is to cross to Tijuana Border City and vote, but there is also an apathy regarding the elections back in Mexico.

This apathy could be explained  by the weak ties to Mexico, were  many of the migrants have no plans to return to their home country, so they are not very interested in elections in Mexico.

Another argument is that the elections tended to be addressed to a different type of Mexican with high income and education levels, which is a small percentage comparing to the typical migrant to the US.

The change of the election process concerning the Mexicans abroad would have to be adopted by Mexico’s Congress, which appears unwilling to support outreach to expand the number of Mexican voting out of Mexico.

Tijuana border

Violence volatility across Mexico

Tijuana borderBy Adina Moloman

Source: The Economist, CASESDE, Open Democracy

The fight against organized crime has been the priority of Felipe Calderón’s government since it started in 2006 and it was registered in the past five years a large  number of murders related to organized crime (between 40,000-50,000 ).  Surprisingly statistics shows that after high rates of murders between 2006-2010, the 2011’s rate rise, of 8%, which represents a significant slowdown comparing to 29%(increase in murder rates) in the past years.

There are a few theories to explain this:

The cooperation between the Mexican security forces and their American advisers, who work together under the Mérida Initiative[1]

The use of an alternative strategy where the Mexican government has declared itself opens to dialogue with civil society, where the society was willing to cooperate (by making anonymous calls to report any suspicious situation).

A general theory mentioned that after a period of territorial fighting between drug cartels, the gangs are settling back into a new equilibrium. The result is the supremacy of Sinaloan groups who were fighting against another criminal organizations. This has been the case in Baja California, where it disputed control with the Arellano Félix zone of operation.

Economic factors such as: the slow down of the demand for cocaine in the United States and on the other side an improvement on Mexican job policy concerning young people.

This measures conducted different results in different regions of the country with interesting variation at the state level. It have fallen sharply since 2010 in Tijuana border town and risen equally sharply in previously safe cities (such as Monterrey) and states like Oaxaca and Veracruz.

Even when it’s a difficult job to eradicate criminal groups, a satisfactory result could be the stabilization and control of the violence across the country.

[1] Mérida Initiative is a joint U.S.- Mexico program to fight against drug traffickers along the U.S.-Mexican border and reduce the corruption rate in Mexico. Through this program it provides aircraft, equipment, software, and training that is needed by military, judicial, and law enforcement officials in Mexico. The initiative has the purpose to improve the effectiveness of both governments US and especially Mexican government.

 

Tijuana Border

Baja California, new State legislature on human trafficking

Tijuana BorderBy Adina Moloman

Sources: www.frontera.info,  www.unescap.org,   El Mexicano,  El Universal

Until 2011 the federal anti trafficking law, known as the General Law to Prevent, Combat and Punish Trafficking in Persons dated since 2007.

Because of lack of understanding of the legal concept of human trafficking crimes, who were mostly confused with crimes against pimping and pornography, many of the criminal managed to escape punishment. Human trafficking is a difficult crime to define, detect, prosecute, prevent and quantify.

For those cases where the crime of human trafficking did not correspond with the assumptions set on the Law to Prevent, Combat and Punish Trafficking in Persons, their persecution was a responsibility of local States. So in Baja California, the crime of human trafficking was regulated by the Law to Combat, Prevent and Punish Trafficking in Persons in the State of Baja California adopted in 2008.

This year entered into force in Baja California, the Anti Human Traffic Law (Ley Contra Trata de Personas).

At the end of this year the Baja California state legislature passed a bill, classifying human trafficking as a grave crime. This new law will provide longer sentences for those found guilty of trafficking, subject to 22 years imprisonment. Also at a federal level a new law passed this year where the crime of human trafficking is included in the list of violent crimes (similar to organized crime cases, homicide, rape, kidnapping and other crimes committed by violent means).

This phenomenon, has a particular importance to the Tijuana region, because the majority of the estimated 18,000 people trafficked to the United States each year pass through the US-Mexican border at Tijuana Border.  The United States is considered as a point of origin, transit, and destination for men, women and children trafficked primarily for the purposes of sexual slavery, forced prostitution, and forced labor.

It is absolutely necessary a good definition of human trafficking on a state level, on a federal level and also cross border collaboration is essential in the fight against human trafficking.

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