By Elliot Spagat SAN DIEGO — A panel of law enforcement experts found that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has made little movement on a call to sharply increase the number of agents assigned to investigate internal corruption, calling it a mistake that could lead to a major scandal if it isn't addressed more quickly. The panel, led by New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton and former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration chief Karen Tandy, urged the nation's largest law enforcement agency in June 2015 to more than double the number of internal affairs criminal investigators to 550 from about 200. It said the agency's 2017 budget calls for an increase of only 30 investigators, meaning it would take about a decade to fulfill the recommendation at that pace. Continue reading

  From Chula Vista to Carlsbad – and tacos to barbecue – eight local eateries have landed on a newly-released list of Yelp’s top places to eat in the United States. Amid a plethora of delicious dining destinations across the country, Yelp has named the following San Diego-based businesses among the “Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. in 2016” – at least based on rave reviews from Yelp users: Continue reading

  By Andrea Kelly Tucsonan Linda Valdez has been studying politics in Tucson and Arizona for decades. She is a columnist for the Arizona Republic and she often explores – and weighs in on – the roiling federal and state debates about border and immigration policy. But she hasn’t revealed her personal experience with those politics, until now. In her new book, called Crossing the Line, Valdez shares her experience falling in love on an impromptu trip to Mexico. She also writes of how she and her husband made their cross-cultural, relationship work, even when he couldn't cross the border to be with her.     Continue reading

  By Matthew Scheurman Rainbow-colored telavera animals crowd the outside of Casa Maya de Mexico in the self-described “artist colony” of Tubac where metalwork shaped into suns and moons, paper mache skeletons from Día de los muertos, and wooden religious figures join them. María Troy, who has worked at Casa Maya de Mexico for the last two years, helps bring many of the goods from Mexico to sell here. Continue reading

  'What can we do if someday la migra comes to my home?' By Alexa Garcia-Ditta On an almost balmy winter day, Yasmin, an undocumented woman, settled into a pew at St. John’s Episcopal Church in North Austin for a lesson on what to do if immigration agents were ever to knock on her door. Yasmin, who asked that her last name not be used, had become increasingly worried as the news swelled with stories about immigration sweeps in several states, including Texas. The controversial raids targeted 121 Central American mothers and children with pending orders of deportation. Yasmin, a mother of two U.S. citizen children, came to the United States from Mexico 11 years ago and fears the same could happen to her and her family. Continue reading

  Frontera Filmmakers Showcase at 23rd San Diego Latino Film Festival (March 10-20)   This indispensable showcase celebrates the triumphant cinematic accomplishments of local San Diego / Tijuana filmmakers. The films featured in this showcase have never been more ambitious, artistic, and astounding. It is a distinct privilege to be able to share these films with you. Individual tickets go on sale after February 26, 2016. For now, you can still also get a special deals on our 5-Movie Ticket Pack, Film Pass, & Festival Pass. Click here to purchase today! http://sdlatinofilm.com/passes/ Films in this year’s FRONTERA FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE Include: Continue reading

  By: Pedro Rios In 2010, Anastasio Hernandez Rojas, a husband and father of five, was handcuffed, tortured and brutally beaten to death by 12 Border Patrol agents at the San Ysidro border crossing in California. The horrifying incident witnessed by dozens of people exposed a systemic problem with the nation’s largest law enforcement agency: that Border Patrol agents operate with impunity, without meaningful accountability, and in complete opaqueness. The abuses by agents are widespread and well documented. Since January of 2010 more than46 people have died as a result of an interaction with the Border Patrol. This past June, a woman was killed when Border Patrol agents intentionally rammed their boat into another boat carrying 20 people. In 2012, a Border Patrol agent shot 16-year-old Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez repeatedly in the back before he died. He was on his way to a local market to buy food staples in the Mexican city of Nogales, along the border with Arizona. Continue reading

  By Christian Ramirez The recently published article, “Activists push for body cams for border agents” demonstrates the lack of justice given to Anastasio Hernandez Rojas’ family. This family has been subjected to delayed tactics and refusals to prosecute. This injustice has created a gap of mistrust. Continue reading

  By EFEUSA Un comité de la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza evaluará a partir de este jueves la investigación realizada tras la muerte del mexicano Anastasio Hernández hace casi seis años después de recibir una brutal golpiza por parte de oficiales de inmigración. La Junta Nacional de Análisis de Uso de Fuerza (NUFRB), quien revisará el caso, fue establecida en diciembre de 2014 por el comisionado de Aduanas, Gil Kerlikowske, como una medida para analizar todo altercado en que agentes detonen un arma, así como incidentes en que el uso de fuerza resulte en heridas de gravedad o en la muerte. Continue reading

  By Jean Guerrero On Thursday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin reviewing the death of a Mexican immigrant shot repeatedly with a Taser by Border Patrol agents. The 2010 incident went viral after bystanders leaked cellphone videos. Continue reading