Thread by @Pedroconsafos

A short story of #BorderPatrol calling INM (National Institute of Migration) to kick us off of mountain (in Mexico) documenting “paused” border wall construction project (or what remains of it).

My good friend Dan has been monitoring border wall construction projects for nearly 2 years in the Otay Mountain Wilderness, from Tijuana side, with rarely any problems. His witness to the destruction has been extremely important. See this video from a month ago.

As we climbed, we could hear a single clincking of working metal in the distance. It appeared to us that a backhoe was digging a trench on the secondary border wall line. Several #BorderPatrol vehicles were in the area.

We climbed higher with intent of walking another 30 minutes to inspect areas east of the mountain peak. Beautiful views of Tijuana towards the Pacific Ocean. The land serrated by dual serpent walls disappearing far away.

We didn’t get far after at this point. Two men, one with a long barreled firearm, waved to us. We waited. They approached. Not yet visible, the menacing vehicle below concealed by the mountain slope.

INM agent & the soldier approached us asking the expected:
- who we were
- what we were doing
- we couldn’t be there
Then boom!
Stumbling after questioning...#BorderPatrol notified them we were in the area so we couldn’t be there. Though we presented no threats. We had to leave.

We had to comply, they said, bc of binational agreements.
“Which ones specifically?”
“Listen” military guy speaks pointing to INM official “he already told you” embracing machine gun.
“So you take orders from the #BorderPatrol” I ask?

We got the hint; climbed down the mountain.

Moral of story & other observations:
MX migra implied US migra told him to get us off their back. Did this w men w guns. Cuz of possible violation of border wall pause? Or maybe it’s been like this since line was drawn. We had cameras & rapped trick words. Imagine having nothing.