Fronteras Desk reporter Mónica Ortiz Uribe spent Thursday first at a maquiladora in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and then accompanying a commercial truck driver through the border crossing into El Paso, Texas. She tweeted about the journey, which took five hours.
@MOrtizUribe
Checking out border wait times in the 1st person today. Driving in a commercial truck from #Juárez to #ElPaso. How many hrs will it take?
— Mónica Ortiz Uribe (@MOrtizUribe) May 30, 2013
The mannequins you see at U.S. Nike stores are made at this maquila in #Juárez, México. pic.twitter.com/Zh8jLImyGW
— Mónica Ortiz Uribe (@MOrtizUribe) May 30, 2013
Just after 2 pm Juárez time my truck driver Alejandro entered Mexican customs w/ a load of mannequins. Lets see how long it takes to cross.
— Mónica Ortiz Uribe (@MOrtizUribe) May 30, 2013
2:33 Juárez time. Trucker green lighted thru Mexican customs. Now held up by U.S.customs for X ray & dock check. This could be awhile...
— Mónica Ortiz Uribe (@MOrtizUribe) May 30, 2013
My trucker: blue cab, far back, center waiting his turn on X-ray machine. pic.twitter.com/j3tUnRiBzV
— Mónica Ortiz Uribe (@MOrtizUribe) May 30, 2013
While we wait, here's a photo of Alejandro the truck driver before departing for our cross border journey pic.twitter.com/ypycPa8Vt1
— Mónica Ortiz Uribe (@MOrtizUribe) May 30, 2013
1 hr later, still waiting...
— Mónica Ortiz Uribe (@MOrtizUribe) May 30, 2013
Finally! Alejandro the mannequin trucker is in the Xray machine. Wonder of all those plastic body parts will raise suspicion...
— Mónica Ortiz Uribe (@MOrtizUribe) May 30, 2013
Yea! Trucker is outta the X ray inspection. Almost there! pic.twitter.com/ua44n7H7Oi
— Mónica Ortiz Uribe (@MOrtizUribe) May 30, 2013
Nevermind. 2 hrs, still waiting...
— Mónica Ortiz Uribe (@MOrtizUribe) May 30, 2013
He made it! Now on our way to warehouse. Stuck in traffic now. There's an accident! pic.twitter.com/55SBgMsixE
— Mónica Ortiz Uribe (@MOrtizUribe) May 30, 2013
5 hrs later finally unloading at the warehouse in El Paso. That's a wrap folks. #borderlife pic.twitter.com/8x9kAQRgUe
— Mónica Ortiz Uribe (@MOrtizUribe) May 30, 2013