“El Puente/The Bridge”
On this day two years ago, asylum seekers in Tijuana sought to touch soil north of the wall, by any means necessary.
“El Puente” was an idea that originated during their journey north through Latin America. A guiding and unifying idea that was rooted in self-determination and empowerment. To cross “el puente”, you walked yourself across it, to find something better, by any means necessary.
Two years ago the asylum seekers woke up saying they were going to walk to the border wall less than a mile away from the shelter, to begin their asylum process.
Only a bridge needed to be walked across to get to the border wall from where they were.
——
The US CBP agents teargassed migrants & asylum seekers after MX federal police could not stop the asylum seekers from crossing their own bridge.
It was just one morning, however.
Some are still in TJ, with their own community now formed. Some self-deported after the kidnappings and killings in TJ began. Some are where the light always shines and the cages creak at night. Some disappeared. Some made it back to their loved ones. Some made it back to their loved ones missing.
Some are here.
Still crossing the bridge.
An asylum seeker just outside of the Benito Juarez Sports Complex Shelter in Zona Norte, Tijuana, MX. The caravan organized to reach the border fence in order to legally begin their asylum process in the US. 
Mexican Federal Police blocking the bridge that leads to the pedestrian border entrance. Hundreds of asylum seekers were blocked from going this route. 
The police line at the bridge. Caravan organizers asked those marching to stop here. Tension filled the air. 
An asylum seeker kneels in front of the police line. Talk of walking around the line begins to happen. 
Instead of continuing on the bridge through the police line, the caravan decided to walk around and continue on the street. Federal Police began to beat anyone around them. People began to panic. 
After going around the police line, the caravan continued towards the US/MX border to begin their asylum process. They crossed the Tijuana River using an existing metal structure. 
After crossing the Tijuana River, an asylum seeker continues towards the border. The bridge that the caravan was originally attempting to cross through is seen in the background. 
As Federal Police chased asylum seekers down, a group of migrants funneled into a gated corner. The border fence is behind this locked, white gate. 
Asylum seekers pushed the gate open just as federal police closed in on them. Just over the border fence, DHS agents surveilled and pointed rifles at the group of migrants. 
The legal asylum process begins when the asylum seeker reaches the US. DHS SWAT agents were deployed with rifles as the army placed concertina wire and shut down the world’s busiest border crossing point. 
Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection Special Response Team Agent – San Ysidro Pedestrian Border Crossing Point 
Barricading the border crossing point. 
The thousands who were initially waiting to cross into the US via car were sent back. Threats of violence towards “any unauthorized person” were made via the speakers above the car lanes. 
A group of asylum seekers being funneled back into Tijuana city limits. US Military helicopter circles overhead. 
A group of asylum seekers next to train tracks that run adjacent to the border wall. US military helicopter circles overhead. CBP drone watches from even higher. 
Onlookers began playing soccer in the car lanes that were blocked off. 
The Tijuana River as seen from the south bank, looking towards the US. The words on the cement read “The Sun Shines For Everyone”. 
As the caravan regrouped from the initial attempt to reach the US, teargas was thrown at them by CBP agents who barricaded the riverbed. 
“Every border implies the violence of its maintenance.”
Give Me Your Huddled Masses
