"Curandera", a woman folk healer, reads the fortune of a man that is about to cross the border to the US. Cheran, Michoacan, Mexico. 07.96
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Two men coming home after work. They both work at a Samsonite Luggage factory that came to Mexico as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Nogales, Sonora, MX. 05.95
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Upon my arrival to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, I asked a man why he wants to come to the US. In response, he went to his home and brought out this coin. The economic opportunities in the US provide incentive to leave the economically depressed towns in Mexico. Nogales, Sonora, MX. 05.95
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"Coyotes" help bring Mexicans accross the border to the US. Nogales, AZ. 05.95
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Tunnel kids are homeless kids that live in the tunnels. Narco traffickers often use these young kids to bring large amounts drugs through the border. Nogales, AZ. 05.95
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Two tunnel kids throw gang signs inside the tunnel in which they sleep and live. Many are gang members where drug use and robberies are common. Nogales, AZ. 05.97
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Women pray for their families return home. They are usually left behind to take care of the children as many of their fathers, husbands, and brothers (solos) cross the border to go to work in the US. Many of the families do not see the men in their family for years at a time. Nogales, Sonora, MX. 05.97
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US border patrol agents capture Mexicans attempting to cross the border illegally. Nogales, AZ. 05.97
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Mexicans return back to Mexico after working in the US. It used to be common for Mexicans to enter the US just for day work. Nogales, AZ. 05.97
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Strawberrry fields forever. Watsonville, CA. 05.97
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Strawberrry fields forever. Watsonville, CA. 05.97
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Migrant worker picks tobacco. Raleigh. NC. 08.97
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Pedro Flores holds up a sprouting brocoli plant. Pedro works in 120 degree heat inside an industrial farm green house where he usually works long hours. Mecca, CA. 2002
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Mexican migrant farm workers pick strawberries. Watsonville, CA. 08.98
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Children in the Beach Flats in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, CA. 08.98
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The Flores family eats dinner. Dinner is a family tradition and is often the only time the entire family gets together. Mecca, CA. 2002
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One woman prays for her families return home. Women are left behind to take care of the children as many of their fathers, husbands, and brothers (solos) cross the border to go to work in the US. Many of the families do not see the men in their family for years at a time. Nogales, Sonora, MX. 05.97
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Mexican migrants who have just arrived to St. Louis visit the Museum of Westward Expansion. The Arch is known as the gateway to the west. The Arch, designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen. St. Louis, MO. 02.97
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Four migrant workers live in a crowded trailer outside Raleigh. NC. 08.97
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Baltazar Cortes, his wife and child visit the Museum of Westward Expansion, St. Louis. The museum preserves the historical signifigance of the Mexican Migrant workers role in the US. The museum explores the world of the 19th century pioneers who helped shape the history of the American West. Baltazar's dream is to build a life for his family here in the US. St. Louis, MO. 02.97
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Thirteen year old Geronimo stands at the fence of the US-Mexico border fence as he prepares to enter in the US. "They cross over so they can eat better on the US side" Nogales, AZ. 05.95
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"Curandera", a woman folk healer, reads the fortune of a man that is about to cross the border to the US. Cheran, Michoacan, Mexico. 07.96
Two men coming home after work. They both work at a Samsonite Luggage factory that came to Mexico as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Nogales, Sonora, MX. 05.95
Upon my arrival to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, I asked a man why he wants to come to the US. In response, he went to his home and brought out this coin. The economic opportunities in the US provide incentive to leave the economically depressed towns in Mexico. Nogales, Sonora, MX. 05.95
"Coyotes" help bring Mexicans accross the border to the US. Nogales, AZ. 05.95
Tunnel kids are homeless kids that live in the tunnels. Narco traffickers often use these young kids to bring large amounts drugs through the border. Nogales, AZ. 05.95
Two tunnel kids throw gang signs inside the tunnel in which they sleep and live. Many are gang members where drug use and robberies are common. Nogales, AZ. 05.97
Women pray for their families return home. They are usually left behind to take care of the children as many of their fathers, husbands, and brothers (solos) cross the border to go to work in the US. Many of the families do not see the men in their family for years at a time. Nogales, Sonora, MX. 05.97
US border patrol agents capture Mexicans attempting to cross the border illegally. Nogales, AZ. 05.97
Mexicans return back to Mexico after working in the US. It used to be common for Mexicans to enter the US just for day work. Nogales, AZ. 05.97
Strawberrry fields forever. Watsonville, CA. 05.97
Strawberrry fields forever. Watsonville, CA. 05.97
Migrant worker picks tobacco. Raleigh. NC. 08.97
Pedro Flores holds up a sprouting brocoli plant. Pedro works in 120 degree heat inside an industrial farm green house where he usually works long hours. Mecca, CA. 2002
Mexican migrant farm workers pick strawberries. Watsonville, CA. 08.98
Children in the Beach Flats in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, CA. 08.98
The Flores family eats dinner. Dinner is a family tradition and is often the only time the entire family gets together. Mecca, CA. 2002
One woman prays for her families return home. Women are left behind to take care of the children as many of their fathers, husbands, and brothers (solos) cross the border to go to work in the US. Many of the families do not see the men in their family for years at a time. Nogales, Sonora, MX. 05.97
Mexican migrants who have just arrived to St. Louis visit the Museum of Westward Expansion. The Arch is known as the gateway to the west. The Arch, designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen. St. Louis, MO. 02.97
Four migrant workers live in a crowded trailer outside Raleigh. NC. 08.97
Baltazar Cortes, his wife and child visit the Museum of Westward Expansion, St. Louis. The museum preserves the historical signifigance of the Mexican Migrant workers role in the US. The museum explores the world of the 19th century pioneers who helped shape the history of the American West. Baltazar's dream is to build a life for his family here in the US. St. Louis, MO. 02.97
Thirteen year old Geronimo stands at the fence of the US-Mexico border fence as he prepares to enter in the US. "They cross over so they can eat better on the US side" Nogales, AZ. 05.95
Joseph Rodríguez Photography
Joseph Rodríguez is a Documentary photographer born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He studied photography in the School of Visual Arts and in the Photojournalism and Documentary Photography Program at the International Center of Photography in New York City.