With more than 950,000 people entering the United States from Mexico on a typical day, Tijuana’s San Ysidro port of entry has become a saturated marketplace of street vendors from different cultures, purposes and life histories. [Foto: VOA]
Amid thousands of cars waiting to cross Tijuana’s San Ysidro port of entry, the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere, a street market was born.
Rigorous inspections create wait times of up to five hours on the Tijuana side, fueling a saturated market of vendors from different cultures, with different purposes and life histories.
Among them are locals, children, migrants from all over Latin America, refugees in limbo, offering everything from food, clothing, sculptures and pets, to prescription medicine.
With his rhymes, jokes and flirtations, Diego García, father of two children, one 6 years old and the other 8, arrives every morning to work on what they call “the lines”.
Diego works every day, except Tuesday, from morning until night. He returns home with between 100 and 200 dollars.
With more than 950,000 people entering the United States from Mexico on a normal day, the port has also become a platform for those who aspire to stardom.
Jesus Barrera, 15, arrives every day from noon to 8 pm to sing regional Mexican music.
While they do not give up hope of going back to school, many of the vendors who are underage do not attend. The reasons vary, but some have emigrated and still do not have documentation, while others have not been able to due to the pandemic.
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channel YouTube and turn on notifications, or follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter e Instagram.