Berlin Wall Fragment Finds New Purpose at US-Mexico Boundary as Biden Continues Limited Wall Construction

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As the United States erects its latest section of the border wall, Mexico has responded symbolically by installing remnants of the Berlin Wall in close proximity.

The 3-ton weathered slab of gray concrete is strategically positioned between a bullring, a lighthouse, and the U.S. border wall that juts into the Pacific Ocean.

Inscribed below this monolithic remnant from the Cold War era is a message that reads, “Let this stand as a lesson to construct societies that tear down walls and erect bridges.” The statement is credited to Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero and bears the title, “A World Without Walls.”

For Mayor Caballero, as for numerous other residents of Tijuana’s population of two million, the U.S. border wall has both personal and political implications. It is woven into the fabric of the city and constitutes a pervasive reality. Mayor Caballero identifies as a migrant herself, having relocated from Oaxaca in southern Mexico at the age of two, alongside her mother, who sought to escape a harsh cycle of poverty, abuse, and illiteracy.

The public inauguration of the Berlin Wall installation took place on August 13, in an event featuring both Mayor Caballero and Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s former foreign secretary and a current front-runner for the presidency.

Caballero, 41, is married to an Iranian man who has become a U.S. citizen. She and their nine-year-old son had been frequent travelers between Tijuana and San Diego. However, since June, Mayor Caballero has resided in a military barracks in Tijuana, prompted by credible threats to her safety, as informed by U.S. intelligence and corroborated by the Mexican federal government. Just weeks before, her bodyguard had survived an assassination attempt. While Mayor Caballero is unsure of the individuals targeting her, she speculates that her efforts to confiscate weapons from violent criminals in the city may be the root cause. “Someone is likely displeased with me,” she remarked in her expansive City Hall office.

Fragments of the Berlin Wall have been dispersed globally since its fall in 1989, finding places in hotels, schools, transit stations, and parks. Marcos Cline, an LA-based digital content creator, discovered a fitting home for his fragment of the Berlin Wall in Mayor Caballero’s vision for Tijuana.

Addressing the placement, Mayor Caballero stated, “The socio-political contexts may differ between the Berlin Wall and our border wall, but ultimately, both are barriers that divide and harm nations.”

President Joe Biden had issued an executive order to halt further construction of the wall on his first day in office, thereby discontinuing a flagship initiative of his predecessor, Donald Trump. Nonetheless, his administration has proceeded with minor, pre-contracted projects, such as replacing an 18-foot barrier in San Diego with a 30-foot structure extending 0.6 miles to the ocean.

The wall transects Friendship Park, a site inaugurated in 1971 to symbolize U.S.-Mexico relations. Over the years, this area has facilitated meetings between families separated by immigration status, becoming a valued locale for both residents and tourists in Mexico.

After extended deliberations, the Biden administration decided to maintain an 18-foot high section of the wall at Friendship Park, permitting limited access.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection anticipates that the “worn-out” dual-layer barrier will be replaced by November and asserts that the taller, under-construction wall “will provide significant improvements.”

The Berlin Wall installation has received enthusiastic reviews from visitors, drawing parallels between the Berlin and U.S.-built barriers, serving as a poignant reminder of divisions, both historical and current.

While criticism of any U.S. presidential policy has been sparse, Mayor Caballero maintains a balanced stance. She acknowledges the need for the U.S. to secure its borders and enjoys cordial relations with U.S officials, including Ken Salazar, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico.

According to Mayor Caballero, failings at the border represent a collective responsibility that ought to be borne by both governing nations. “We stand against violence, against family separations, against divisions, which is what the wall symbolizes,” she concluded.

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Contributions to this report were made by Eugene Garcia, a video journalist based in Los Angeles, for Big Big News.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about US-Mexico Border Wall

More about US-Mexico Border Wall

• Berlin Wall: History and Significance
• US-Mexico Border: Current Policies and Projects
• Montserrat Caballero: Political Profile
• Biden Administration’s Immigration Policies