Fronteras

Lorne Matalon

The history of silver mining here is long and colorful.

Texas Silver Mine, Border County's Largest Taxpayer, Shuts Down

A mine at Shafter, Texas has shut down leaving only some employees working to maintain the mine until a hoped-for reopening. This is hampering budget planning in one of the border region’s poorest counties.

Eighty-five people are jobless, the mine is under a safety investigation and the company is ruffling feathers by taking the county to court to try to cut its tax bill.

ACLU Challenges Police Use Of 'Papers Please'

The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging how local police are enforcing the so-called "show me your papers" or "papers please" provision of Arizona's immigration enforcement law.

It's the first challenge of its kind since this section of Arizona's SB 1070 took effect more than one year ago.

Mónica Ortiz Uribe

Xitali Lopez packaged Sour Patch Kids candies at the Blueberry Factory in Ciudad Juárez. She survived last month's explosion. Her father, who also worked at the factory, died from the injuries he sustained during the blast.

Investigation Into Factory Explosion In Juárez Ongoing

Authorities in the Mexican border city of Juárez are finalizing their investigation into the cause of a deadly explosion at a candy factory last month.

Xitali Lopez is one of more than 1,000 workers employed by the plant, where she packaged Sour Patch Kids candies. "The lights went out," she said. "And then came the deafening sound of the explosion."

This week an eighth person died as a result of injuries. Seven others remain hospitalized with severe burns.
 

In Albuquerque, Human Trafficking Evolves And Grows

A recent study claims that nearly 30 million people on the planet live in slavery­ a practice that relies on the trafficking of human beings. Human trafficking is a growing problem in the Southwestern United States, and the black market trade is expanding in New Mexico.

Fronteras Desk reporter Tristan Ahtone interviewed a college-student-turned-prostitute in Albuquerque.

Texas Public Radio

Activist Graciela Sanchez is arrested by San Antonio Police. By the end of the day 8 people would be arrested in total.

Judge Approves Demolition Of First Spanish-Language TV Station Building

Demolition of the building that housed the first Spanish-language television station in the United States went forward this week. A judge in San Antonio dissolved a restraining order that had been protecting the building.

Four activists that were seeking historic preservation for the birthplace of Univision jumped the fence of the construction site to try to stop the bulldozers.