Over the Border for Gas and Violence

By Rebecca Powell, 6-12-08

The Juarez murder count is over 450 for the year. Drug cartels continue to wage gun battles in the street. There have been reports of decapitations. According to a recent NY Times article fuel costs are taking up to 10-16 percent of some New Mexican’s income, thus some are willing to cross the border to save a few bucks.

Gas in Mexico is subsidized by the government, making it over a dollar cheaper than gas in the U.S.

A Texan quoted in a Dallas News article by Angela Kocherga justifies the risk, ‘“I worry about the crime. Of course, I do,” said Mr. Nevarez, an oilfield worker who lives in nearby Sierra Blanca. “But sometimes we have to risk a little bit to save money."’

A rancher in Silver City takes 20 containers with him every time he crosses the border to Palomas.

Still, I will not be making the 45 mile drive to Juarez for gas. An acquaintance tells the story of surprising his mother with a Mother’s Day outing to Juarez for lunch. After an enjoyable meal, he returned to his car to find a body, shot through the head, leaning against his fender. He quickly circumvented his mother’s path to the car and suggested a walk in the town square. Local law enforcement took the body away while he was distracting his mother. As he drove through the border checkpoint, he hoped they wouldn’t ask about the blood smear on his fender. Personal testimonies aside, the Las Cruces Sun News reports new slayings everyday and then are the femicides. No, when and if I go to Juarez it will not be for gas. My daily commutes average less than five miles and I easily and happily bicycle to work and play. Perhaps, I would head for the border if my commute was once again over 30 miles a day.

For more like this, see BorderWest.

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By Rebecca Powell, 6-12-08 | comments (6) | email story | print story

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Comments

By vicky, 6-12-08

We have a winter home in Patagonia Az,a 15 minute drive to Nogales,Sonora. We use a diesel truck and go across the border to save $80 per fill up. Diesel is $2.30 per gallon and we have a 32 gallon tank,and it is 5.00 here in Montana. We never see any crime in this area,but it requires an hour wait sometimes to get back in the U.S. But it is worth it to us. We miss the Mexican cheap gas excursions,now that we are back in Montana for the summer/fall.

By Rebecca, 6-12-08

Vicky,

Wow. Eight dollars? That's a huge savings. I haven't read or heard anything about violence in Nogales. Has the diesel been good quality. Thanks for the comment.

By vicky, 6-12-08

That's eighty dollars savings,not eight. And the diesel seemed to be of good quality..we have used many tanks-full,and crossed the border scores of times to visit friends in Sonora as well as get well priced Mexican diesel. Their diesel is cheaper than their regular gas,since it is not taxed.

By Rebecca, 6-12-08

sorry about the typo -- vicky.

By Edward, 6-13-08

Across the length of the border over 1000 people have been killed in 2008, including all sorts of dismemberment. There is a full scale, three-way war going on between two drug cartels (Tijuana and Gulf) and the 30,000 Federales sent to stop it. This includes running gunbattles in broad daylight with machine guns, grenades, and RPG's. Ciudad Juarez is the center of this war, but it is occurring all over Mexico. It has spread to LA-yes, running gunbattles in broad daylight-although no military grade weapons have been used yet, to my knowledge. Right now the drug trade is estimated to be worth $60 billion/yr, by far Mexico's largest source of income. These days, the cartels want weapons, not money, for their products. I recommend Charles Bowden's book "Down By The River" for the most detailed study of this. Since the book was written the situation has gotten much worse.

By Y Choate, 6-16-08

Seems to me that I've been right all along. Our government should pull our soldiers home and use them to line our borders. My desire for isolationism grows ever-stronger as I learn more and more about Juarez.

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