Art In Eagle Pass

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EAGLE PASS, Texas — The border is such a very divisive topic and over the last eight years here in America, it has many sides going against each other with many wanting a wall across the border and stricter precautions when it comes down to immigration itself and many wanting restrictions to be loosened. My classmates went down to Eagle Pass, a Bordertown in the state of Texas to get the truth of what’s really going down at the border.

Before coming down to Eagle Pass, someone from night owl artworks, and studio told what’s really going down at Eagle Pass.

Photo: Juan Rodriguez-Mora

Not much different than other cities but we do have the issue of the immigrants seeking some sort of asylum from the USA. The members of the community try their best to live their lives as if not an issue, but for the most part, there are sections of our city that are not affected at all. The main distraction in our city is the fact that we have to be more vigilant of people walking around. From a business perspective, it has not affected much what we do apart from parents’ concerns, since my art studio is located in the Heart of Downtown Eagle Pass. 

Another major point that was brought up is what is the media getting wrong about Eagle Pass since the media helps carry the discussions for these topics of immigration and the border.

One of the major things that the media is not covering is the local leader’s efforts to bring a resolution to the issue. The main focus now is on the governor vs the President. Although both are trying to solve an issue, this is something that border towns have dealt with for many years. Other organizations are out trying to bring light to the border crisis and are not given enough screen time to explain the issues. 

Art is a form of media that can help push and build discussions around topics. When asked how does art help build the discussion for immigration this is what they had to say. 

In the city of Eagle Pass, there isn’t much of an art presence for the few professional artists who are working on things that have a major political story. Artists like Francisco Riojas from The Maizanos & The Paisanos, created a series of comic strips that have a comical point of view on the issue at the border. So art in Eagle Pass has to be established before it can become a discussion. The residents of Eagle Pass will focus more on whether there will be traffic and items flying off the shelves before they focus on the Arts. Even though we have a strong message to pass along, the neglect of the artists in the community is in a sad reality nonexistent. In other cities Art is the gateway to uniting people of different views by engaging in constructive discussions. Art has a way of uniting people in ways that no other media can. There is a different culture that exist in border towns and the art reflects that. 

When asked if the media should cover more about what’s going on at the border? This is what they had to say. 

The issue is not about if media coverage is present but the way the media is covering the events happening. More things are happening within the city with community leaders and organizations raising awareness about the issues and yet only a few of those leaders are being asked to be interviewed. Community leaders like Mr. Jesse Fuentes, from Eagle Pass Border Coalition, and the Border Vigil are some of the leaders that have been on the front lines advocating about the issues. He is a well-respected individual whose voice should be the one that people listen to but the media just pass him by because of how he advocated for the actual access to the Rio Grande. Other leaders are being shadowed by State representatives who don’t live in Eagle Pass but claim to represent our city. Media should focus on those leaders who are day in and day out visiting the border and are doing something to change or bring change to the city. 

This project was created through a journalism class at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies Department. This work was made possible through the support of MPC Endowment Ltd., the philanthropic affiliate of the Milwaukee Press Club.