Last year thousands of Haitians arrived in Tijuana, Mexico hoping to make it across the border to the United States. The Mexican government gave them visas and work permits, and the city of Tijuana welcomed them with open arms.
Although the pay is much less in Tijuana than the United States, fear of deportation keeps Haitians from attempting to cross. The Haitian people adjusted to the border life and immediately submerged themselves into the Mexican culture.
They found jobs at restaurants, gift shops, construction sites, motels, and just about any other place in Tijuana. Feeling a sense of acceptance brings them hope after suffering from a devastating earthquake that ruined their country.
The United States and France were the two nations who donated the most money to Haiti, but they didn’t allow them in their countries because they were not technically refugees. With the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil four years away, they found jobs in the South American country helping build the soccer stadiums.
Once the stadiums got built, the Brazilian government decided to stop allowing Haitian immigrants into their country. With nowhere to go, many opted to attempt the impossible and pursue the American dream, but they found Tijuana on their way there.
Although the Mexican government won’t allow Haitians to bring family members, they did give them yearly renewable visas and work permits. Most Haitians in Mexico live in tight quarters with a handful of other men and send most of their earning to family in Haiti.
Some only sleep a couple of hours per night since they have more than one job. They could be working construction all day and then do a night shift washing dishes at a restaurant, cleaning motel rooms, or watching the door at a bar.
Most of the Haitian immigrants living in TJ are in their late twenties and early thirties, and some of them had careers back home. They are well-educated, and business-savvy, with a few of them opening a little Haitian restaurant.
Haiti experienced two centuries of successive authoritarian governments and foreign intervention, leaving the needs of the people as last priority. The Haitian people have learned to work with each other to survive and thrive no matter where they go.
Their fighting spirit is both inspiring and worthy of respect because they never ask for any handouts. Haitians are becoming indispensable elements to the city of Tijuana, and they have also embraced it as a new home – their children even go to Mexican public schools now.
The future of these Haitian immigrants is unfortunately still a bit uncertain and unclear, especially with their families so far away. For now, though, they will make the best of living under these circumstances, but luckily, TJ residents are happy to help.