http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/24037 According to the DHS Office of Immigration Statistics1, at the beginning of 2008 there were approximately 11.6 million illegal immigrants living in the USA, 7 million of whom were Mexican citizens. A large proportion of the immigrants who head to the United States are originally from the southern states of Mexico. Each year thousands of them are deported. They are brought to the border by bus and deposited in Mexico by way of a simple door in the border fence. After deportation they find themselves in one of the border cities, for example Tijuana in the North West of Mexico: An area unknown and alien to them. The Mexican government does next to nothing to help their deported citizens. They are mainly left in the hands of Christian orginisations. One such organisation, Ejército de Salvación (The Salvation Army) provide for the first two weeks after deportation, a bed for the night and 2 daily meals for a service charge of 15 pesos (1.17 USD). During these two weeks, the deportees are expected to seek work or return to their original hometowns. But only a few want to go back there. Most of them have been separated from their families, still living in the US: their women and children, their mother or sister. That‘s why they want to go back. Others came to the USA illegally as children and had lived there nearly their whole life. Some don‘t even speak Spanish let alone know Mexico. These people want to be in the USA because they consider it their homeland. Because there is hardly social aid in place from the Mexican government and the charitable support from ecclesiastical organisations is limited, many former illegal immigrants inevitably end up on the street. They are mainly shunned by the residents of Tijuana and persecuted by the police, who (as many deportees will tell you) frequently confiscate their documents and any money they might have on their person, leaving them with no form of identification. They are made into stateless „indocumentandos“ as they are called. They are periodically jailed for up to 36 hours, a „measure for the prevention of criminality“ as Aurelio Martinez Paz, Vice President of the Tijuana police explains. When arresting, the police detain them by beating their legs with batons to prevent them running away. The police throw away their food, clothes and medication and take -if they have any- their money. If anyone asks why they‘re arrested , they are ordered to „shut up“. Most of these indocumentandos accept these repressions and try to live an inconspicuous life in the canal of Tijuana with the sole aim of returning to the USA. They are waiting for the ideal conditions to cross: mostly during the night when it's foggy or rainy. During the day they try to get work in market or as a painter or washing the windshields of cars waiting at the USA border. Tijuana is the epitome of a terminal station: Most of the indocumentados spend months on the street before making it to the other side. Others never get there and abandon hope of a better life. Many don‘t bear up against life on the street and turn to drugs to escape the reality of their situation. Tijuana is the terminal station at the end of a long search for a better life. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/15047/Untitled-1_small.jpg http://www.lightstalkers.org/Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990691/ejercitosalvacion003_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990691'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990691 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:40:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990691 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990691/ejercitosalvacion003_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990691'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990694/ejercitosalvacion001_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990694'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990694 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:41:26 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990694 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990694/ejercitosalvacion001_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990694'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990697/ejercitosalvacion006_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990697'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990697 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:41:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990697 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990697/ejercitosalvacion006_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990697'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990700/ejercitosalvacion005_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990700'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990700 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:42:10 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990700 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990700/ejercitosalvacion005_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990700'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990703/DSC_9840_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990703'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990703 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:42:28 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990703 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990703/DSC_9840_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990703'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990706/ejercitosalvacion012_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990706'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990706 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:42:48 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990706 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990706/ejercitosalvacion012_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990706'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990709/DSC_2888_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990709'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990709 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:43:22 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990709 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990709/DSC_2888_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990709'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990712/DSC_2762_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990712'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990712 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:43:43 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990712 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990712/DSC_2762_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990712'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990715/DSC_2351_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990715'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990715 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:44:01 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990715 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990715/DSC_2351_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990715'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990718/DSC_2285_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990718'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990718 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:44:19 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990718 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990718/DSC_2285_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990718'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990721/DSC_2321_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990721'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990721 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:44:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990721 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990721/DSC_2321_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990721'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990724/DSC_2319_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990724'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990724 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:45:18 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990724 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990724/DSC_2319_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990724'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990727/DSC_2950_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990727'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990727 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:46:03 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990727 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990727/DSC_2950_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990727'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990730/DSC_2937_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990730'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990730 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:46:29 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990730 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990730/DSC_2937_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990730'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990733/DSC_2958_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990733'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990733 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:46:59 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990733 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990733/DSC_2958_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990733'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990736/DSC_2200_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990736'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990736 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:47:16 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990736 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990736/DSC_2200_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990736'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990739/DSC_2206_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990739'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990739 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:47:52 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990739 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990739/DSC_2206_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990739'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990742/DSC_2302_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990742'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990742 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:48:52 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990742 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990742/DSC_2302_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990742'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990745/DSC_2381_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990745'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990745 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:49:38 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990745 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990745/DSC_2381_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990745'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990748/DSC_2360_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990748'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990748 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:50:03 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990748 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990748/DSC_2360_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990748'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990751/DSC_2758_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990751'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990751 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:50:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990751 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990751/DSC_2758_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990751'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990754/DSC_2755_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990754'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990754 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:00:31 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990754 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990754/DSC_2755_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990754'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990757/DSC_2185_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990757'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990757 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:00:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990757 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990757/DSC_2185_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990757'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990760/DSC_2173_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990760'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990760 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:01:21 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990760 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990760/DSC_2173_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990760'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990763/DSC_2304_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990763'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990763 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:01:37 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990763 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/990763/DSC_2304_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/990763'>view full-size image</a> Hanna Silbermayr