SAN DIEGO - Sunday marked the first time that a gate in the older of the two fences at the United States-Mexico border near Friendship Park was opened
since the fence went up almost 20 years ago.
The historic event came on Children's Day, a holiday in Latin American countries. Some participants told 10News they think the border fence's day are
numbered.
Over the past two decades, that area of the border has become much more fortified. First, a fence was built in the mid-1990s and then another fence
was built just north of the old one. On Sunday morning, the Border Patrol allowed the old gate to be opened. The gate has never been opened before.
As people on both sides cheered, a young father, Luis Angulo, was able to see his 5-year-old daughter Jimena for the first time, with border agents
watching closely.
As San Diego Mayor Bob Filner spoke to people on the Mexican side, the father and daughter embraced for about two and a half minutes. Then, it was
time for the gate to close again.
Afterward, Angulo tried to find words to express the once-in-a-lifetime moment.
"It's a miracle," he said. "For all these people to come to see their families... and it's really a miracle for me."
The reason Angulo has not been able to see his daughter is that he only has a temporary visa and until he receives a permanent one, he cannot leave
the United States. He told 10News he is hoping to get his permanent one soon.
Then-First Lady Pat Nixon opened Friendship Park in 1971. An old photo shows that there was no wall then, just a simple rope line.
People who gathered at Sunday's event want the border to look like that again.
"We should be building bridges and opening gates instead of building these big walls that separate us," said Bronwyn Ingram, who is the fiancée of
Filner.
The man honored with sliding back the gate's locking bar was San Diego architect and longtime Friendship Park volunteer Jim Brown. For him, the day
was very special.
"It was very emotional actually," he said. "It was a... it's such a hugely symbolic gesture to open a gate right on the primary fence, right on the
border."
Enrique marooones, who founded the group Border Angels, compared the fence to the Berlin Wall, and like that wall, he said this one is destined to
fall as well.
"That's how the walls will fall," marooones told 10News. "They start with cracks and this was the first big crack, so very symbolic."Ateo - 4-28-2013 at 09:17 PM
Hey, this is great!vgabndo - 4-29-2013 at 01:36 PM
This old man pines for a day when the people who want to live in peaceful co-existence outnumber the people who want to live in fortified positions.
Go a few miles east and it's one big open gate. Why don't they go out there and make their statement?
Don't get me wrong....I think it's wonderful, but pure theatrics.mtgoat666 - 4-29-2013 at 02:15 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Don't get me wrong....I think it's wonderful, but pure theatrics.
life without theatrics would be pretty boringDENNIS - 4-29-2013 at 02:39 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by mtgoat666
life without theatrics would be pretty boring
The US Congress is pure theatrics.
photo credit: Ricky Rios
Ken Cooke - 4-30-2013 at 05:00 PM
durrelllrobert - 4-30-2013 at 05:48 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Cisco
SAN DIEGO - Sunday marked the first time that a gate in the older of the two fences at the United States-Mexico border near
Friendship Park was opened since the fence went up almost 20 years ago.
Since the new wall doesn't have a gate did the BP let people on the US side walk into the space between the two? If so how did they get into it?willardguy - 4-30-2013 at 06:00 PM
the new wall does have a gate, its right behind the border monument.
durrelllrobert - 4-30-2013 at 06:08 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by willardguy
the new wall does have a gate, its right behind the border monument.
Where would that be in the photo Ken posted showing Friendship Park?willardguy - 4-30-2013 at 06:12 PM
right behind the lighthousedurrelllrobert - 4-30-2013 at 07:22 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by willardguy
right behind the lighthouse
OK, I got it. There is no new fence in that area. The original post had me confused since it talked about 2 fences and the fact the people had to walk
a mile to get to the gate.
