Environment knows no boundaries
MEXICO AND THE U.S. HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO OVERCOME THEIR SHARED CHALLENGES. ONLY THROUGH TRUE COLLABORATION WILL WE REACH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
When It Rains, It
Pours: Environmental Crises and Migration
MIGRANT
COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE INCREASINGLY EXPOSED TO THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AS WELL AS TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS THAT INFLUENCE THEIR MOBILITY DECISIONS
It can never be said one too many times that societies worldwide are facing environmental crises of unprecedented magnitude. Currently, climate change dominates much of the narrative in the media, as well as in statements from international organizations and national and subnational governments. This focus is relevant because of the certainty about the extent to which this phenomenon will affect the world and the multitude of negative manifestations it will have on ecosystems and communities, to the detriment of the structure and functioning of the former and the ways of life and well-being of the latter.
The relationship between environmental issues and migration is twofold. Both the conditions of the environment are determinants in people's mobility decisions, and changes in residence alter the trajectory of ecosystems.
Strategies and public policies to achieve orderly and humane migration have not been successful in the
main migration destinations, particularly in Europe and North America. Large-scale human movements cause friction in both the arrival and departure territories. If the rates of border encounters and asylum applications in these regions have surprised us in recent years, they are only going to increase in the future.
While the social environment seems to be growing more complex, the negative impact to societies of natural phenomena shows no signs of letting up. Here, it is important to underline a concept that has not permeated everyday language: there is no such thing as "natural disasters." Disasters manifest at the intersection of a natural event and the social management of the territory. This is the approach also taken by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, which we will discuss on another occasion. Climate change will amplify the frequency and intensity of these intersections, with catastrophic results. Consider hurricanes, floods, heat waves, droughts, sea-level rise, and so on, along with their socioeconomic impacts. In Mexico, we can refer to the situation
in the community of El Bosque in the state of Tabasco, to resist the temptation to label these claims as futuristic.
Beyond these global dynamics, there are also local or even regional pollution and environmental degradation problems whose origins and spatial boundaries can be clearly traced, and for which the tools for addressing and solving them could be considered numerous and effective. Let's take toxic landfills that have gone down in history in the United States and Mexico as examples, such as Love Canal, Times Beach, Valley of the Drums, and Guadalcázar in San Luis Potosí. The latter is a paradigmatic example because it is closely linked to an international trade agreement and its controversies solving mechanisms. Are these mechanisms sufficient or insufficient? Let's add to these catastrophes: deforestation, soil degradation, water and air pollution, overexploitation of flora and fauna, and more. All these dynamics occur in specific places, human and non-human living spaces. These impacts on community ways of life are not evenly distributed across territories or socio-eco-
determined by their family migration history. This means that migrant communities are concentrated in specific regions (states and counties) and specific places (neighborhoods in cities) that coincide with long-established migration networks. This results in a strong link between the territory and the migrant condition.
nomic strata of the population. These environmental impacts intersect with other forms of vulnerability and exposure. Migrant populations are vulnerable groups that are more susceptible to harm if exposed to risks, such as psychological, physical, or environmental ones.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights describes vulnerable migrant populations as: "persons who are unable effectively to enjoy their human rights, are at increased risk of violations and abuse and who, accordingly, are entitled to call on a duty bearer’s heightened duty of care" (OHCHR, 2017).
In recent years, human mobility in the Latin American region and its flow toward the United States have reached record numbers. According to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), there were 1,734,686, 2,378,944, and 2,476,669 encounters at the Mexican border in the fiscal years (October to September)
2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively.
So far in fiscal year 2024, there have been 1,925,773. While these encounters involve people from many countries around the world, more than 80% are from Latin America, with the most frequent origins being Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela.
Mexico remains a main source of migrant population, although it is now also classified as a territory of transit and destination for groups with regional and overseas nationalities.
It is difficult to separate environmental causes from the social, economic, or safety reasons for migration that are recorded in datasets like the above from CBP. For example, a violent conflict over control of territories for mining exploitation or water monopolization, or soil degradation due to agricultural use, may be classified as economic conditions that force people to leave their places of residence. However, the primal causes and possible solutions may
have predominantly environmental characteristics.
The Mexican community in the United States has a long history of migration to its northern neighbor, and its connection to the territory is deep. Starting with the laying of railroad tracks in the 19th century, later transitioning to agricultural work in other parts of that geography, and more recently with an increasing number of persons who migrate to advance their higher education, with relatively well-paying formal jobs compared to what they could find in Mexico, or even as investors and entrepreneurs. However, it is important to emphasize the proportion of this migrant population in the United States that is in vulnerable conditions, without documents guaranteeing them access to the same labor and social security benefits as authorized migrants. Even in succeeding generations, who, having been born in the country have a U.S. citizenship, their places of residence are largely
Around 282 million people worldwide are considered migrant populations, meaning they reside in a country different from their country of birth.
The above is important because geographic location is crucial to identifying the environmental risks to which certain communities are exposed. In the case of the migrant community in the United States, their social and economic characteristics place them in clear situations of vulnerability. According to data from the American Community Survey there are approximately 46 million foreign-born people residing in the United States, 46% have limited knowledge of the English language. This communication barrier limits their access to health care, justice, and job opportunities. Of this same population, about 14% are below 100% of the poverty level. For these foreign-born residents, the median household income is $84,157 for naturalized citizens, while for those without citizenship, it is $64,157, a difference of twenty thousand dollars. About 55.7% of this foreign-born population owns a home, but of this percentage, 67.7% are naturalized citizens while 37.5% are not. Additionally, 30% of those who are not naturalized citizens lack health insurance, whether public or private. All the above vulnerabilities reduce these communities’ capacity for adaptation to negative environmental impacts. Furthermore, an estimated12 million, of those 46 million foreign-born people, are unauthorized migrants. It is conclusive that migrant communities will face additional difficulties in dealing with the impacts of climate change and other environmental issues. Latin America is the origin of numerous groups of people who leave their place of birth or residence due to environmental problems, expecting their decision to leave will bring some improvements to their lives. Still, it is highly likely that upon reaching their intended destination, they will once again be exposed to environmental conditions that will negatively affect their way of life. These two processes—migration and environmental problems— should be analyzed simultaneously to find public policies that address them more effectively and efficiently.
Although southern California and Baja California are one geographic region, they differ in their management and anthropogenic, or human-caused, pressures. The same can be said about most borderland habitats found along the almost 2,000 miles of U.S.-Mexico border: they are continuous bioregions that are artificially split by political boundaries.
But this concept isn’t new. In 1983, Mexico and the U.S. signed the La Paz Agreement to “protect, conserve, and improve the environment of the border region of both countries.”
In 2012, both countries’ federal environmental agencies launched a border program to improve environmental and public health, now known as Border 2025.
So why is it that although multimillion-dollar efforts exist to bridge this gap, most environmental work in this region operates in one country or another? While I ask myself this question, I also find myself in awe of scientists and community organizers who are pushing the boundaries of collaboration.
Recently, thanks to partnerships between botanists on both sides of the border, Baja California’s environmental agency has published a floristic inventory that has the potential to pass a new state regulation for plant conservation. If approved, it will be the first time endemic and threatened flora in the region is managed cohesively across border lines.
The Border BioBlitz recently wrapped up its seventh year of work gathering wildlife infor-
mation along the borderlands to improve our understanding of the biodiversity that inhabits them. As part of the project, organizations on both sides of the border are leading community science efforts that allow any person—regardless of their academic background—to contribute to it. Grassroot organizations like Tipey Joa Native Warriors are increasing access to nature for Kumeyaay people—the original stewards of this region—on both sides of the border by leading field trips to the coast and mountains. The efforts also include facilitating visas for Kumeyaay folks south of the border to visit their relatives and ancestral lands in the north.
Examples like these make me optimistic about the future of collaborative work for nature stewardship in our region. As I navigate my career, I realize more and more how deeply my bicultural background serves me in my professional life. There’s a switch in my head that lets me operate as a gringa or as a Bajacaliforniana, and it’s helped me understand the world through a unique lens. This switch has allowed me to make connections between people or projects that wouldn’t have found each other otherwise, to elevate perspectives that have been historically overlooked, and to slowly chip away at the blatant resource and funding inequity that Mexican organizations face.
So, as I sit in my car, bumper-to-bumper at the border line yet again, I can feel both labels weave together inside me, paralleling the interconnected nature of our borderlands’ environment and communities.
31 MINU TOS
INTO THE REALITY OF AN
Minutos is a Chilean television program that aired for the first 21 years ago. It has had four seasons and a total of 69 episodes.
HOW DOES THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM WORK IN THE U.S.?
The presidential election in the United States is indirect.
Voters in each state choose the 538 electors of the Electoral College.
The popular vote winner receives all the electoral votes at stake in each state within the Electoral College.
This system makes the most populous states key in the U.S. elections.
In particular, California has 54 electoral votes at stake, Texas 40, Florida 30, and New York 28.
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES (PARTY ASSEMBLIES):
Voters choose their presidential nominees to represent the parties in the election.
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244 MILLION citizens eligible to vote SINGULARITIES
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SINCE 1845. The presidential general election takes place on the first Tuesday of November every four years. NATIONAL CONVENTIONS: Political parties hold national conventions to nominate presidential and vice presidential candidates.
LEADINGCANDIDATES
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
The Republican and former President, Donald Trump.
The Democrat and Vice President Kamala Harris.
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OR LOWER HOUSE
All 435 house seats are up for grabs.
U.S. SENATE OR UPPER HOUSE
Only 35 out of 100 Senate members are up for election.
13 GOVERNORSHIPS OUT OF A TOTAL OF 50 STATES.
5,000 SEATS IN STATE LEGISLATURES. 3 Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
SNOITCELEREHTOEHT 2 SPECIAL ELECTIONS
ON NOVEMBER 5, AMERICANS WILL CHOOSE THEIR NEXT PRESIDENT AFTER AN ELECTORAL PROCESS THAT INVOLVES PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES (PARTY ASSEMBLIES), DEBATES, VOTING, THE CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, AND FINALLY, THE INAUGURATION DAY
The
● It is composed of 538 electors from the 50 states.
● All states have two senators.
● The number of electors depends on the size of the population.
● California is the most populous state, while Wyoming has the smallest population.
● Each state gets as many electors as it has members of Congress.
NOVEMBER 5, 2024 ELECTION DAY
DECEMBER 17: THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE MEETS AND THE PRESIDENT IS ANNOUNCED.
JANUARY 6, 2025: CONGRESS COUNTS THE ELECTORAL VOTES, AND THE VICTORY IS RATIFIED.
JANUARY 20, 2025: INAUGURATION DAY THE PRESIDENT-ELECT AND VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE.
WHITE HOUSE RACE FOR
TWO-PARTY SYSTEM
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● In the 1796 presidential election, the rivalry between the two groups began to take shape.
● Since 1852, the United States has operated under a two-party system.
● The Civil War of 1861-1865 marked the consolidation of this system.
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● The deep division between the North and the South strengthened the two-party system.
SWING STATES
WISCONSIN 10
GEORGIA 16 NEVADA 6
● Other parties, known as third parties, exist but lack popularity.
These are states that can shift their preference and ultimately decide the outcome of the presidential race.
PENNSYLVANIA 19
MICHIGAN 15
CAROLINA 6
As a woman, facing this not very feminist candidate, Trump, it is significant that a Mexican woman is remembering and dignifying the pre-Hispanic culture, as part of Mexican and Latin American culture."
THE PRINCESS WHO RULED BOXING
THE NAME JACKIE NAVA LEFT A PROFOUND MARK ON THE SPORT OF BOXING IN MEXICO. EVEN TODAY, SHE REMAINS A ROLE MODEL
BY: ÉRIKA MONTOYA ILUSTRATION: ALEJANDRO OYERVIDES
Curiosity led Jackie Nava to discover her true passion. Inside the ring, with her gloves on tight, she managed to write her name in the history of one of Mexico’s most popular sports, but also one of the least common for women: boxing.
Thanks to the encouragement of her father, and after trying gymnastics, karate, and kickboxing, she arrived at boxing to break new ground, establish herself, and become the first world champion in the history of the World Boxing Council (WBC), winning over even the most demanding fans.
Years later, her life took a turn one night in Tijuana when an invitation to a kickboxing event changed her trajectory.
“They said to me, ‘Don’t you want to fight?’
My trainer said it half-jokingly, but I took it seriously.” And so, almost without realizing it, she found herself in the ring, ready for her first kickboxing fight. And she won. That victory not only gave her confidence but also ignited a passion in her that she hadn’t felt with karate.
The transition from kickboxing to boxing came similarly unexpectedly in 2001 when her trainer mentioned an offer to fight in Hawaii.
Jackie, who was studying architecture at the time, was more drawn to the opportunity to travel to a paradise location than to the fight itself: “I’m not sure what I heard first, whether it was boxing or Hawaii, but I think I heard Hawaii. It caught my attention because I wasn’t doing well financially, and I thought, ‘When will I ever have the chance to see Hawaii?’” she recalled. However, that fight would be much more than just an excuse to travel; it would be the beginning of a brilliant career in professional boxing. She won by decision, and although she didn’t know it at the time, she had found her true calling.
Jackie Nava, a two-time bantamweight champion, is one of the most iconic figures globally because for her, fighting came naturally. Her technique and movements were precise, she could glide, fight with good posture, and that caught the attention of managers, promoters, but above all, the most demanding fans.
After years of struggling to carve out a
Who is Jackie Nava?
She was the first world champion in the history of the World Boxing Council.
was
as
She gives motivational talks to children and youth. Her presentation is called “The Power of Your Fear.”
With her husband Mario Mendoza, she has two daughters: Frida and Valentina.
She
crowned
the queen of boxing at the WBC convention in Acapulco.
WHO CONQUERED AND BOXING
2001 THE YEAR SHE STARTED PROFESSIONAL BOXING.
40 WINS IN HER RECORD. FOUR LOSSES AND FOUR DRAWS.
40% KNOCKOUT PROBABILITY IN HER CAREER.
2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
$400 EARNED IN HER FIRST PROFESSIONAL FIGHT.
space for women’s boxing, in 2005, the World Boxing Council (WBC), which had until then only organized championships for men, decided to open the doors to women thanks to the vision of its president, Don José Sulaimán. Jackie seized this opportunity and, in a historic milestone, crowned herself WBC world champion, marking the beginning of a new era for women’s boxing.
For Jackie, boxing went from being an opportunity to becoming a way of life. She vividly recalls a fight in Las Vegas, one of the first in her career, where she lost by split decision. Although the defeat was bitter, it was also a turning point in her career. That night, Laura Serrano was present, and after lifting her spirits, she explained that to stand out, she needed to add a physical trainer, a nutritionist, and learn to cut weight properly to her team.
From that moment on, Jackie began to take boxing much more seriously. With the support of Erik Morales, a Mexican boxing legend who became her mentor, Jackie was able to improve her physical condition and technique. Together with her team, they decided to drop from 130 to 118 pounds, which allowed her to compete in a more suitable category for her height and skills.
The pinnacle of her career came with the rivalry that defined an era in women’s boxing: her fights against Ana María Torres.
This rivalry began in 2011 and became one of the most intense and exciting in Mexican boxing history. The first fight, held in April 2011 in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, was a true war in the ring. Both fighters gave their all, exchanging blows in a bout so close that the judges declared it a draw. The rematch didn’t take long, and in July of the same year, Jackie and Ana María faced off again, this time in Mexico City. Although Jackie fought valiantly, Ana María managed to win by unanimous decision, taking the WBC world title from her.
After more than two decades in boxing, Jackie Nava is remembered not only for her titles and victories but also for her impact outside the ring. In Tijuana, she has spent the last 13 years training young people at her gym, a project that began as an initiative to keep youth away from bad influences and give them a chance to thrive in sports. Her husband Mario is the head trainer, and together they have trained numerous young people who dream of becoming champions and top competitors.
This project has not only benefited Tijuana’s youth but has also solidified Jackie’s legacy as an inspiring figure in the community. Many of the kids who started training with her more than a decade ago are now adults, and some have even followed in her footsteps into professional boxing.
Today, Jackie Nava remains a symbol of perseverance, passion, and excellence both inside and outside the ring. Her story is a reminder that success is not measured solely by the titles won but by the impact one has on the lives of others.
Rosario and her daughter Rodnia, originally from the state of Guerrero, arrived in Tijuana in the 1980s and crossed into San Diego every weekend.
The beginnings trace back to San Diego in 2002, starting in a garage on Saturdays and Sundays for three years.
Their specialties include Lamb Special, mixiote de borrego, and green pozole, typical of Guerrero!
Through their menu, they aim to be affordable while ensuring that the flavors transport diners back to their home. They have also incorporated rated dishes like burritos. The name "El Borrego" was given by the people, who associated the lamb barbacoa with the place.
often thought
PURSUIT OF AMERICAN DREAM
FLAVOR
BY ALEJANDRA ICELA
MARTÍNEZ RODRÍGUEZ
ILUSTRATION: ALEJANDRO OYERVIDES
The story behind El Borrego, in El Cajón, San Diego, California, is a story of mother and daughter. In an exclusive interview with Heraldo USA, Rodnia, along with her mother Rosario, welcomed us and shared how they started selling barbacoa 20 years ago. Rodnia, the daughter, greets us with a simple and warm smile. Rosario, in the kitchen, watches over discreetly yet firmly, typical of mothers who control everything with a look and a shy smile.
Throughout this time, they faced various challenges but also seized opportunities. Originally from Guerrero, they arrived in Tijuana in the 1980s, with family on the other side of the border. The back-and-forth trips across the border gave Rosario, who at the time was working for an airline company, the idea: “There’s no lamb barbacoa in San Diego, we should make it.” Rodnia, who was finishing her university studies, retorted, “No mom, I just graduated from university, how can you want me to sell barbacoa tacos?” But her mom insisted, “Yes, it will be a great business!” And so it was. For three years, they would cross from Tijuana to stay at their aunt’s house in San Diego on weekends, Saturdays, and Sundays, “because barbacoa is a morning thing, it’s for the
hangover,” says Rodnia with a smile, knowing her audience and customers. But first, they had to learn how to prepare barbacoa. Both had their own jobs, and fortunately, they had a family willing to taste the results of these chefs in training. After six months, they conquered the palates of their aunts, uncles, cousins, and others. Difficult yet simple at the same time when you come from a family where cooking is a tradition. Good food, as everyone knows, starts with the basics. The love for flavorful and well-seasoned food runs in their family, where they understand that a good salsa makes the difference between a feast and a simple dish. Rodnia acknowledges and affirms this: “My aunts are excellent cooks; with five ingredients, they can make something wonderful.” She gives an irrefutable example: “When it comes to red chilaquiles, the salsa only requires five ingredients; you don’t need to add more to give it a great flavor.” Any Mexican reading this will be transported to that fortunate moment, nodding in agreement and imagining their unforgettable chilaquiles or a good barbacoa taco with red salsa. To not only be known but also recognized in the region, and to sell 300 kg of barbacoa in a single weekend to people coming from Los Angeles and all over the United States, they knew they had to “do something different, and bring a little taste of home to San Diego.” So they traveled to Mexico City, where their uncle Carlos lived, to try every barbacoa they could find. And to get the right ingredients, Rodnia even carried a machete: “I would spot an agave leaf in the median and stop to cut it so we could make barbacoa.” Certainly, times were different then; in those days, it was easier to bring their products from Tijuana with fewer restrictions. Today, supply chains allow for all the ingredients to be found in San Diego, thanks to the increased and diversified exports of Mexican products.
Love indeed goes through the stomach, and the longing to taste something that reminds us of home has also driven and sustained this dream of owning a restaurant. Rodnia acknowledges and asserts: “I think the American Dream sometimes fades a little. What has kept our spirits high is seeing our fellow Mexicans start eating and say, ‘No way, it’s like I’m at my grandma’s house on a Saturday or Sunday, with the whole family gathered around.’” Paradoxically, it’s migrants who keep the American Dream alive.
For Rodnia and Rosario, bringing Mexican flavors to the discerning palates of Mexicans and Mexicans in the U.S., as well as to Anglos and people of other origins, is “pride! A lot of pride. The menu is designed so that with half a kilo of barbacoa, you can be transported. That’s the idea, to transport you a little back home and feel like it’s an extension of our home and our family.” They also want to contribute to the notion that Mexican food is healthy, requiring nothing more than good ingredients, seasoning, tradition, and a lot of love in its preparation. It sounds idyllic and romantic, but that doesn’t take away a bit of its truth.
Building the Mexican-American dream also means going into debt to succeed. Entering this economic system means accepting the rules of financial institutions. “So that was another thing, realizing that here I have to go into debt to grow. I have no debt, and now I have to get into debt to make the business bigger,” says Rodnia with a bit of indignation, emphasizing the irony. Even playing music requires following the rules.
Being open to change, adapting, learning, and breaking patterns are some of the reflections Rodnia shares. Selling burritos didn’t take away the authenticity of their barbacoa flautas; instead, it allowed them to sustain the business and show new generations of Mexican-Americans how food is eaten in the homeland of their parents and grandparents.
Rodnia reminds us with her broad smile and shining eyes that besides having dreams and drive, you need to have character and a sense of humor. And of course, a mother who pushes you, looks at you with affection, tenderness, and loving rigor.
