New Mexico
November 2015
Less than an hour into our drive north of El Paso, we are routed onto a side lane approaching what looks like a toll booth with accompanying overhang. There are differences. On the way to the booth, I notice two banks of six security cameras each. Twelve cameras flanking the lane. How many cameras do we not see? This is an “Inspection Station,” a common sight here in New Mexico near the border. El Paso is at the intersection of three states — Texas, New Mexico and Chihuahua — but most importantly at the moment, two countries. Concerning the other country, you may have heard something about immigration issues. Yeah. The Inspection Station is run by the United States Customs and Border Protection agency.
One stocky official officer is doing some work on his computer, which is mounted on a table outside the door to the booth. Who knows, maybe he was playing video games. I’m guessing not. Another stocky official officer who is standing outside the door of the booth smoothly glides over to our vehicle. This guy works out. Just look at him! Stretches too. He looks through the window into the back of our car, looks at each of our faces and says, “Just you two?”
Lisa is driving. She says, “Yes.”
“Are you both United States citizens?”
Again Lisa says, “Yes.”
He looks right at me and says, “You too, sir?”
I nod.
“Please respond verbally, sir.”
“Yes, I am,” I say, in my best English.
“Okay. Have a nice day.” Satisfied, he backs away, looking behind us, already checking out the next vehicle.
A large styrofoam cooler is on the back seat of our vehicle. Who knows what dangerous chocolate candy bars we might have been smuggling to our next hike! Or perhaps a family of illegal Mexicans. There might be a whole troop of clowns in that box, or an axolotl. Yikes! I mean, I’m this Jewish kid from Pittsburgh. Probably the most legally underhanded thing I’ve ever done was to crash the fence at Woodstock. Judging by the behavior of this guard, they are no longer looking for me for that grievous offense.
Also, it’s unlikely about the clowns.