Border Patrol agents to remain on duty despite government shutdown
Most CBP employees considered essential
The vast majority of U.S. customs officials are expected to remain on duty throughout the United States government shutdown. According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials, 52,673 of the 59,561 CBP employees will remain on duty. The 88 percent …
Group of 15 immigrants stranded at sea off the coast of Baja California rescued
Immigrants had paid to be taken to the U.S. by sea, but were left at sea for over 12 hours
A group of 15 immigrants were rescued by the Mexican navy after being left at sea for over 12 hours on Monday, September 9. The group had paid for travel to the United States, but was abandoned after the small …
Calexico border agents seize cash headed for Mexico, meth headed for U.S.
Agents seize 59 pounds of meth and $654,900 in separate busts
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico port of entry have been busy in recent days, making busts going each way at the border. On Thursday, August 29, officers seized 59 pounds of methamphetamine from a 40 year …
Gael Garcia Bernal to star in immigration film shot in Baja California
Movie to depict immigrants and American citizen taking border patrolling into own hands
Gael Garcia Bernal, a widely popular Mexican actor and film director, is set to star in a film that will be shot in Baja California, beginning in October. The film, Desierto, is a Spanish language film which will depict Mexican …
Border agents make big seizure at Otay Mesa
Meth, cocaine, and heroin found inside vehicles gas tank
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, agents at the Otay Mesa port of entry seized over 52 pounds of hard narcotics from a vehicle on Monday, August 25. Officers noticed discrepancies with the vehicles gas tank, which led …
More than 8,000 ex-cons deported to Tijuana in 2013
Tijuana has received more deportees with criminal records than any other border city
Tijuana’s municipal police chief, Jesús Alberto Capella Ibarra, announced that the city has received more than 8,000 deported ex-convicts from the United States so far in 2013. Mexicali, the capital of Baja California, only received 200. The statistics were released …
Baja Attorney General: Arellano Félix Cártel has not disappeared
Statements made after DEA declares organization extinct
Rommel Moreno Manjarrez, the Baja California Attorney General, announced that despite claims made by the DEA, the Arellano Félix Cártel has not disappeared from the area. The statements came on Tuesday, August 20, a day after Eduardo Arellano Félix was …
Eduardo Arellano Félix receives 15 year prison sentence
Arellano Félix drug cartel boss receives sentence after pleading guilty in May to multiple charges
Eduardo Arellano Félix, one of the former leaders of the Arellano Félix drug cartel, has been sentenced to a 15 year federal prison term on Monday, August 19. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Larry Burns at …
Baja California received more than 25% of deportations in 2012 from U.S.
400,000 deported to Mexico last year, 126,000 to Baja California
The Instituto Nacional de Migración (National Migration Institute or INM) of Mexico released its estimates on the number of Mexicans deported from the United States in 2012, on Friday, August 16. Milenio reported on the statistics the following day, which …
Banners placed across Tijuana denounce abuse by state police
Messages ask governor to stop human rights violations
At least twelve handmade banners were placed across Tijuana and Rosarito with messages denouncing abuses by the state police, on Thursday, August 15. The banners displayed numerous messages, asking the governor to intervene in human rights abuses which are allegedly …
New northbound lanes at San Ysidro POE to open Friday
Five new traffic lanes hope to shorten wait times, pedestrian lane opened Tuesday
The San Ysidro port of entry plans to open up five new northbound traffic lanes on Friday, August 16. According to the Mexican Foreign Relations Secretariat, the new lanes will put San Ysidro at the highest northbound capacity of all …
Majority of asylum seekers at Otay Mesa are from violent state of Michoacán
Some suggest the influx of applicants is due to a scam, while others note a change in policy
The Otay Mesa port of entry has seen a large influx of asylum seekers from Mexico in recent days, as reported by Fox News on August 12. An anonymous source, who allegedly works at the port of entry, told Fox …
Marijuana plantation destroyed near U.S. border in Baja
Large plants discovered on farm east of Tecate
Authorities located a marijuana plantation near the U.S.-Mexico border in Baja California on Friday, August 9. State authorities said an investigation led officers to the farm, which was located approximately 30 minutes east of the city of Tecate. The farm …
Panga boat carrying $4 million in marijuana nabbed on California coast, first spotted near La Jolla
Small boat finally stopped southwest of Laguna Beach, two suspects arrested
A panga boat, which originated in Mexico, was stopped 12 miles southwest of Laguna Beach with over $4 million worth of marijuana on board on Tuesday, August 6. According to Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officials, the small sea vessel …
Suspect in murder of Ensenada priest apprehended in Tijuana
Man claims to have know priest for over 15 years before killing him
A suspect has been arrested in Tijuana for the murder of an Ensenada Catholic priest on July 21. Local authorities stated that the suspect, 55 year old Marcos Cisneros Melo, was arrested while in possession of the priests van on …
Mexican authorities on alert for James DiMaggio, homicide and kidnapping suspect
Suspect alleged to have taken two children after killing two and burning home
Authorities in Mexico have been put on alert after a wanted San Diego County man may have fled across the border with two children. The suspect, 40 year old James Lee DiMaggio, is suspected of killing two victims and kidnapping …
Cross border terminal from Tijuana airport to Otay Mesa could begin construction soon
Project leaders intend to finalize plans any day and begin 14 month construction
A cross border terminal, which would connect Otay Mesa, CA with the Tijuana International Airport, could possibly begin construction by the end of August. The project, which has been in the works for several years, would allow ticketed passengers to …
Activists protest against policies on border where 477 immigrants died in 2012
Human rights defenders protest on both sides of border by placing white crosses
Human rights activists participated in a demonstration by placing white crosses near the U.S.-Mexico border on Sunday, August 4. The demonstration occurred at Playas de Tijuana and at Border Field State Park, on each side of the border fence. In …
Large drug seizures on both sides of border
Meth, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana seized along the U.S.-Mexico border
A series of large drug seizures, by law enforcement departments on both sides of the border, have occurred over the last week. The largest seizure occurred at the Otay Mesa cargo facility on July 30. According to Customs and Border …
74 United States fugitives arrested in Baja California in 2013
Number 74 was a highly wanted fugitive from Los Angeles accused of multiple rapes
According to Baja California authorities, 74 United States fugitives have been arrested in Baja California so far in 2013. Alfredo Arenas Moreno, the chief of the state police international unit, commented on the number while declaring another arrest. Number 74 …