Curt63
Super Nomad
Posts: 1171
Registered: 3-28-2009
Location: San Diego, Ca.
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Mood: Fish tacos and Tecate
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Taxes on gifts entering Mexico
On Saturday, my daughter went with the Pastor and a group of Jr. High kids (9 others) in a church bus to deliver small wrapped gifts to another church
in Tijuana.
The Mexican border agents gave them a police escort from San Ysidro to Otay Mesa and detained them for 3 hours figuring out how to handle it.
Apparently, they only allow 5 gifts per person for free and the rest are subject to Import Tax??
The bus had 700 gifts and ended up paying fees of about $170. Worse than that was how scared these Jr High age kids (with cell phones texting their
mommas) and their parents.
After that, a church service was held, kids played, everybody ate, gifts were distributed and everybody had a grand day.
Word to the wise: "No good deed goes unpunished"
Feliz Navidad Bajanomad amigos!
No worries
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Jeeeezo....Storys like this are just sad. I know the law's the law but, there has to be a way for these guys to follow the spirit of the law instead
of the letter.
Well...there's a group of kids who, when grown, will never go to Mexico.
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
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Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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Now you know why we need toy donations soon, we have to slowly bring them across.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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Dominoes
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Well...there's a group of kids who, when grown, will never go to Mexico. |
Nah....These kids will eventually start surfing... then smoking dope and then....
Well, you know the rest of the story. 
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BajaRoadrunner
Junior Nomad
Posts: 59
Registered: 6-15-2009
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So they crossed the border with 700 wrapped objects of unknown value and/or if they were really going to be gifts and not a bussines and you are
complaining?
Those kids were a victim of their pastor ignorance, not of mexican law or border agents.
Kids should be taught to respect any law, not only their country's, it doesn't matter if it is the US.
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Curt63
Super Nomad
Posts: 1171
Registered: 3-28-2009
Location: San Diego, Ca.
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Mood: Fish tacos and Tecate
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Yes I'm complaining. The country is poor and corrupt and makes it difficult for the poor and disadvantaged to get help.
Go ahead and call the pastor ignorant, but please tell us what you are doing to help the people of Baja.
The woman and little girl in the front and center of the group were the recipients of the house.
Here are some pictures of a high school minsitry trip last year (2008) to build a house and work at an orphange in La Gloria (TJ). This trip was
cancelled this year after the pastors wised up about Mexico.
No worries
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BajaRoadrunner
Junior Nomad
Posts: 59
Registered: 6-15-2009
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Sorry for being unpolite in my last post.
But my point is, you can't expect to be able to brake the law just because you are trying to do something good.
I called the pastor ignorant because he took the kids and all those gifts without investigating first if they could cross the border without paying
any tax. I admit the word was too strong and I'm sorry.
I don't see were the corruption is. Yes, it's annoying to be detained at the border but thats it. I doubt they were treated in a bad way.
Would you rather have the officer let them go trough the border and braking the law?How about the next car or truck with gifts? Or wrapped guns? That
would make our country ( I'm mexican) more corrupt and adding to the problems we have. You critisize Mexico because the government is corrupt but want
laws being broken just for you because you are doing something good. Think about it, don't just respond to me with defensive and impulsive arguments.
By the way, I'm the people in Baja.
I'm a professional and get paid the same as somebody flipping burgers in the US. I've been a victim of corruption, crime and abuse a few times.
Crossing the border to the US is a lot worse. I have been waiting in secondary inspection with my toddler for 1.5hrs for a "routine check" when
crossing to the US and have been questioned like a criminal a few times  .
I'm not trying to be disrespectful but I see this incident in a hole different way than you do.
[Edited on 12-15-2009 by BajaRoadrunner]
[Edited on 12-15-2009 by BajaRoadrunner]
[Edited on 12-15-2009 by BajaRoadrunner]
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irenemm
Senior Nomad
Posts: 623
Registered: 7-16-2009
Location: vicente guerrero, baja
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Mood: relaxed
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The American Pastor has to get in touch with the Mexican Pastor that he is going to work with in Mexico. The Mexcian Pastor will get a letter from DIF
to bring the toys and gift for free to be given out to the children. It takes time but Christmas as everyone know is only 1 day a year. So you have
364 days to work on it.
Not everyone bring stuff to Mexico does it for goodness some do it for profit. and that is the problem
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Curt63
Super Nomad
Posts: 1171
Registered: 3-28-2009
Location: San Diego, Ca.
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Mood: Fish tacos and Tecate
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Runner, No offense taken. I understand the need to respect Mexican law and keep guns/etc. out. Its just a little frustrating and does make it more
difficult for charity and assitance to go south. With the economy what it is, organizations will just find people at home to help.
Irene, Thanks for that. I'll pass it on.
In the end there are lots of kids in TJ that got a present and a message of hope.
My best Baja day EVER (even better than 8-10' offshore 200 yard point secret spots and wide open bites in Loreto)
was the day I took 15 inexperienced high schoolers to a concrete slab and framed, roofed and drywalled in one day the house in the picture and then
turned it over to a wonderful homeless family.
...about as good as it gets
Anybody that helped after Jimena might be able to relate.
No worries
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