Text 19800, 60 rader
Skriven 2011-06-06 13:23:57 av Roy Witt (1:387/22)
  Kommentar till text 19743 av Björn Felten (2:203/2)
Ärende: The Border
==================
05 Jun 11 01:34, Björn Felten wrote to Michiel van der Vlist:


 BF>    The border crossings are rather amazing too:

 BF> http://goo.gl/maps/WL7f

 BF>    Into Mexico there's six lanes, and they are almost empty on this
 BF> snapshot. Into USA are some 25 lanes, and they are full, and you can
 BF> follow the roads south and notice that they are full of cars, bumper
 BF> to bumper, for miles.

Depends(tm) on the time of day the photo was taken. There are 23 lanes
there and if they're full of traffic, those are the people waiting
for the people ahead of them to show their 'Green Card' (work permit)
to get clearance to cross the border. They're on their way to work.

Or, the photo was taken on a Sunday when those Americans who visited
Mexico are on their way home.

In the afternoon, the southbound lanes aren't as crowded, but that is
due to the difference in immigration laws in Mexico. Mexican plates on
your car or you look like a native, they don't question you, they just
wave you on through.  Even walking into Mexico, they wave you through,
unless you look like you're under 18yo. Mexican law says that minors can't
cross into Mexico without a parent or guardian.

 BF>    It would be interesting to know if this is typical for this time
 BF> of day (18:00 judging by the shadows) or if Google happened to catch
 BF> a special day of some kind.

On weekends, the southbound border crossing is as crowded as the
northbound lanes. "Where are you coming from? What are you bringing into
the US from Mexico? Where were you born? Where do you live? Show me your
ID." etc. All that takes time. Then, there is the possibility of being
detained because you didn't answer the question right or you look
suspicious and need to be questioned further or searched in case they
suspect you of smuggling.

 BF>    According to Wikipedia it is estimated that the two border
 BF> crossing stations in Tijuana account for 300,000 daily border
 BF> crossings, so I guess there can be quite a long wait sometimes. At
 BF> least in one of the directions...

Both. The Green Carders have to leave the US when they're done working or
shopping. To stay longer requires a different border pass. That works the
same if you're a gringo going into the interior of Mexico. Visiting the
city of Tijuana for a day, no problem. Going to Ensanada, about 60 miles
south of TJ requires a pass. If you're going to engage in an activity like
the Baja 500 or 1000 race, that requires a Mexican Work Permit. You can
get one at the Mexican consulate in San Diego.

                R\%/itt


 ..."We will not tire, we will not falter, we will not fail." - GWB


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