Happy 250th America! In a new podcast, Melissa and Todd discuss surveillance, and unconstitutional policing migrating into the country's interior, and ancient rock art faces demolition in Texas. Plus more news from across the border region.
Border Chronicle founders, Todd and Melissa, talk about how law enforcement surveillance, high-speed chases instigated by Border Patrol, unwarranted searches and seizures, and other heavy-handed policing that border communities have endured for decades has now moved into the interior of the country.
A $2.6 billion border barrier through Texas' Lower Pecos Canyonlands has archaeologists warning that irreplaceable indigenous rock art and sacred sites could be destroyed.
Happy 250th America! In a new podcast, Melissa and Todd discuss surveillance, and unconstitutional policing migrating into the country's interior, and ancient rock art faces demolition in Texas. Plus more news from across the border region.
Happy 4th of July, I guess. There's a weird vibe in the country. That feeling that the wheels are going to come off at any moment. Or maybe they already have? The sitting president reported a profit for himself of $2.2 billion in his first year back in the White House. And Congress and the administration have transferred approximately $260 billion to the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE and Border Patrol which it can spend through 2029. It's an astronomical sum and five times the amount of DHS' previous budgets. Much of that funding comes from cuts to healthcare, education, rural infrastructure and other vital programs that Americans rely on. I definitely felt this in 2026. This was the first year that I could not afford health insurance. The cheapest plan on the healthcare marketplace in Arizona for someone my age—Gen X—was $700 a month with a $10,000 deductible. (And yes, I did explore every avenue to find an alternative with no luck.) Despite our current dire straits, I do think at the grassroots community level we can change things for the better. Honestly, it's our only option. It's going to take a lot of work, but I believe we are already on our way. One example of this are the mutual aid networks that have sprung up across the country to protect immigrant neighbors and report abuse by ICE and Border Patrol. It's ordinary Americans, each one of us doing what we can, to push back against the authoritarian takeover of our government that gives me hope as we approach America's 250th birthday.
And along those lines, here at The Border Chronicle we've been feverishly documenting the impacts of the Trump administration's border barriers, which include a proposed 500 miles of floating buoy barriers on the Rio Grande and a plan to build a double wall across the entire 1,954 mile border with Mexico, effectively walling off the North American continent. It's a massive undertaking with massive consequences, with CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott stating recently at a public event that he'd "made a commitment to the president, will be done by the end of 2027."
On Tuesday, Sam Karas, a reporter in Texas' Big Bend wrote about the potential loss of some of North America's oldest murals, many of which have not been fully studied yet by archeologists. This is due to border barrier construction and DHS waiving federal laws that would protect the ancient rock art so it can speed up wall construction in Texas. This piece really struck a nerve with readers, and has already garnered more than 280 comments on our social media platforms since it posted.
Sam Karas
On Thursday, Todd and I in our latest podcast discussed his new book on the Rio Grande and climate change, which he just turned in to the publisher— hooray! And we talked about the "everywhere border" where surveillance, unwarranted searches and seizures, and other heavy-handed policing that border communities have endured for decades has now moved into the interior of the country. Take a listen and let us know what you think in the comments.
Melissa del Bosque
As we reflect on America's independence this 4th of July, celebrate independent news that holds our government accountable by becoming a paid subscriber for just $6 a month or $59 a year. We can't do this important work without you!
The efforts to preserve the desert's iconic plants, resist the destruction of ancient trees, and deal with the harassing border machine, even after deportation.
Latinos with DACA say they're being targeted in Texas, and a review of new Chicano vampire fiction by Laredo author Ito Romo, plus a rally in southern Arizona this weekend to save ancient cottonwoods from border wall destruction, and more!
Trump's big buoys arrive in Eagle Pass, a border resident arrested for nonviolent protest against wall construction in Zapata County, and catch our podcast with Yes Men prankster, political activist Jacques Servin and Todd who entirely reframe "border security."
The Border Chronicle hangs out with legendary journalist Amy Goodman, plus big tech and the "everywhere border" and a podcast about Latin American art and the borderlands and more!
Independent news, culture and context from the U.S.-Mexico border.
