BorderLine
by Jean-Christophe Guillaume
Operation Gatekeeper was a Clinton-era security operation on the United States - Mexico border near San Diego, CA. It was intented to focus Border Patrol personnel in places where illegal crossers could disappear quickly into neighborhoods, reasoning that authorities would have more time to catch people trekking through the desert ans that the difficulty of such crossings would be a deterrent.The enforcement push, however, has channeled migrants to places such as Arizona, increasing the number of deaths in the region inhospitable mountain ranges, indian reservations, military proving grounds and cactus-filled wilderness.According the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the goal of Gatekeeper was "to restore integrity and safety to the nation's busiest border".The Secure Fence Act of 2006, allowed for over 700 miles (1100km) of double-reinforced fence to be built along the border with Mexico, across cities ans deserts alike, in the U.S. sates of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.This fence is 21 feet (6m) tall and 6 ft (2m) deep in the ground, cemented in a 3 ft (1m) wide trench with high density concrete.Since 1994, when the United States began biffing up patrols along the 2000 mile border (3200km), an estimated 5600 migrants have died while attempting unauthorized border crossings.A rate of one every 24 hours...With these pictures I wanted to place the human being with its dignity and its hopes in front of a geographical/psychological limit.The purpose was to figure out what means for these people to live their everyday's life with all kind of threats roaming around. (violence due to the drug issue, denouncements due to their immigrant status and especially death in the attempt to go to "the other side".). Therefore, the best way to see from their perspective was to share their lives, sometimes just for a couple of days, other times for a week...
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21 Responses to “BorderLine”
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beautiful work, love it
Hi Linka! Thx for the post, I am pleased you liked the serie!
Have a great day!
beautiful, indeed
Very nice indeed
super beaux travail :))
c’est magnifique!!!
tu déchire jc
Without any doubt the work of a Professional photographer. JC chose a difficult subject, especially that of depicting the sad and tragic side of humanity on the Mexican-U.S. border. JC has succeeded in doing just that! Brilliant!
Great !
Bravo M. Guillaume.
Un magnifique travail.
Wonderfull J.C.
See you soon
excellent..!
nice dude
Congratulations!! It’s nice to combine the estehtic and the deep sens of the message ! You remember us that we have to look and to see behind the picture !
Nice and interesting work. It’s important to call upon a situation in this country.
It’s a beautifull photography with a deep sense.
Continue dans ce sens!
nice and interesting work. It’s important to call upon the situation in a country.
Beautifull photograpy. Contiunue dans ce sens.
Bravo
This shows the deep reality of striving for the dream.
Imposing and topical subject - great photography
Well done, very effective. Art is about exposing the nature of the contradictions in human life and I think you have done that. Photography gives us powerful images to make a valid point and you have used the medium to its full potential on behalf of some very vulnerable people.
Hi!
Thanks to all of you for these votes and comments.
I appreciate that you’ve taken some of your time to watch the essay and the thoughts you might had for these guys downthere!
My bests
JC
sadly gorgeous…
An unusual light and clarity. Fresh, vibrant and evocative.