Chivis Martinez for Borderland Beat
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Thank you for the many good thoughts, comments, emails, they are appreciated more than you will ever know!
I will be lurking and helping with moderating. And what happens in the future, that's for us both to discover.
I love 99% of you all, even the Millies and Willies.
The Chapo Snitch Guy, you became classic, I think that must have surprised the hell out you as well, I immensely enjoyed the comments of contrite, written to the Chapo Snitched Guy.
The 1%, well...ain't going miss you at all, and you know who you are.
My favorite Borderland Beat success story
I received an email from a person whose 18 year old family member had vanished crossing into the US. They had called GEO along the border and every agency they could think of.
Then they emailed me. It was a long shot. But border sources I am rich with. I called Border Patrol contacts, who gave me a GEO contact, and within a couple of hours I found the kid who I will call Julian.
BUT he was being released in a couple hours. That means bused to the international bridge and told to march into Mexico. In this case Acuña Coahuila.
BUT he was being released in a couple hours. That means bused to the international bridge and told to march into Mexico. In this case Acuña Coahuila.
Territory of Los Zetas, who would be waiting on the Mexico side for that bus and forcibly "recruiting" the young strong people. Julian was in danger.
I called on my friend Lacy who lives in Mexico with her husband. Also sent my assistant to Acuña with one of the backpacks we give to migrants at the Casa Migrante shelters. New clothing, a little cash, phone card, toiletries etc. She took a couple bottles of water and a sack lunch of sandwiches etc for his bus trip. We bought a bus ticket back to the interior Mexican state he calls home, all in case Lacy would spot Julian. I contacted the priest at the Migrant shelter asking if Julian could stay safely there until his bus left. He said "absolutely!".
Everything set. Lacy has less than an hour to get to the bridge with a photo of Julian. (he is in the photo above left taken at the shelter with his new backpack and ticket) Incredibly, she and her husband Emiliano see Julian. My blonde American buddy runs over to Julian, he looking scared out of his mind, and she tells him she is there to help him and to go with her. Looking back on the situation, if he had time to think, I doubt he would have climbed into the back seat of her car.
But he did. :)
And off they went to the shelter. Julian had nothing. They kept all of his belongings including his cell phone (a story I should have written about) But Lacy called his family and he was within a couple of minutes, speaking to his cousin in Oklahoma. His father lives in Oklahoma. He was raised by his grandparents on a farm.
My assistant arrived at the shelter picked up Julian, and gave him his ticket, some money and the backpack. It was then time for the bus station. He was placed on the bus. I received an email twhen he was safely home. It was a long journey home. He said he never intends to try going to the states again and experience the nightmare once again.
It turned out perfectly. Amazingly well. Everything depended on precision team work. and lots of luck.
Mad appreciation and love to my sidekick Lacy and Emiliano .....also all of you.
and the beat goes on......
Your friend,
Chivis