The border photos taken at
El Paso, Texas and
Juarez, Chihuahua were
taken on an assignment for a certain US missionary society which is
committed to social work around the world, and whose members help
migrant communities. The Catholic Church runs safe houses on either side
of the frontier, where
migrants can rest before and after making the
hazardous passage through the desert while heading north in search of
jobs. Although they are
illegal migrants, several Church based
organizations help them on their journey, offering sound advice about
the crossing, and giving them food and shelter.
In 2005 when the
photographs were taken, a fence ran for several miles between the sister
cities of El Paso and Juarez, though it petered out beyond the city
limits. Crossing the border would be easy, if it were not for the US
border patrol vehicles which are stationed at regular intervals so that
the entire border can be surveyed. The border is lit by floodlights at
night. White supremacist 'Minutemen' have also started to be present on
that section of border, observing migrants crossing and violently
harrassing them when they arrive. The border stands as a symbol of
injustice, illustrating the North's dominance over the South, and the
plight of the poor migrant workers whose energy is really needed in the
USA in order for agriculture and many low paying industries to flourish.
There is a shocking contrast of wealth and poverty between the two
cities on either side of the border.
- Sean Sprague, Photographer
Border Crossing
05mx067 - Freeway approaching Mexico. El Paso, Texas.
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Illegal Migrants
05mx047 - Child of Illegal migrants from Mexico who have just crossed the border on foot and are taking refuge at a migrants’ shelter, Annunciation House, in El Paso, Texas, USA.
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Border Fence
05mx003 - The fence running along the border between El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, USA.
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Click here to see all the photos from the Mexico / Texas, USA Border
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Migrants' Shelter
05mx045 - Illegal migrants from Mexico who have just crossed the border on foot and are taking refuge at a migrants’ shelter, Annunciation House, in El Paso, Texas, USA.
Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
05mx087 - Walking a dirt street, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
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