Dear Friend of Borderzine,

As we near the end of 2021, we’re taking some time to reflect on the stories that had the biggest impact with our readers this year. We’re especially proud of our series coverage of the impact of the pandemic on the border after travel restrictions cut off travel between our twin cities of El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico.


 
We reported on the struggles of South El Paso businesses that have long relied on shoppers from neighboring Mexico for a majority of their sales. And we looked at the dentists in Mexico who saw a sharp decline in patients from the U.S. who normally cross for lower cost care.
 
We told stories of resiliency like the cross-border amateur soccer team that had to scramble to find replacements after some of its players could no longer cross to play games.


Before the travel restrictions, shoppers and others from Mexico crossed daily. But during the pandemic many were no longer able to get the products they wanted or needed from the U.S. side of the border. We told the story of how some relied on friends or relatives, but others turned to passadores or cruzadores, U.S. citizens or legal residents who can cross back and forth and will shop for others in Juarez for a fee.


We also gave readers a look at cross-border romance in the time of coronavirus. Love was not considered essential under the travel ban, which made it hard for cross-border couples - who once freely traveled between cities - to stay connected.

This series is just one example of the kind of reporting our student journalists provide as they learn their craft in an international community. Reporting that provides insight into our border life and prepares the next generation of journalists for professional newsrooms.
 

Multiply your impact. Support more diversity in news. 
Give nonprofit. Give now. 

We only have a few hours left in our annual fundraising campaign. From now until midnight December 31, NewsMatch and another foundation will match your new monthly donation 12 times or triple your one-time gift, up to $1,000. So your $100 contribution becomes $300! For us, this is a big deal and will help sustain and grow our program through 2022 and beyond. 
 
Which story will you make possible today? 
 
With gratitude,