Port of Entry

Cannabis on the border is nothing new – for decades, weed moved north from Mexico into the U.S., an illegal trade that fueled drug cartels and drug violence. But with the legalization of recreational and medicinal cannabis in California and other U.S. states, all of that has changed. In Episode 1 of a new series from Port of Entry, we profile a Tijuana politician and activist who is pushing for le...

When COVID-19 rules prevented certain people from crossing the border, “Port of Entry” cohost Alan Lilienthal’s binational, bilingual band Tulengua got separated by the wall. How the partially closed border and the pandemic changed Alan and his bandmates Amari Jordan and Jimmy Mora forever. More about Tulengua here: https://www.tulengua.mx/ Today’s story is the final episode in our “Port of Entry”...

Border artist Michelle Guerrero struggled with addiction for years, but a surprise pregnancy helped her straighten out her life. Eventually, she taught herself how to paint large-scale murals, in part, by painting murals on the actual border fence. These days, Michelle goes by Mr B Baby, and she travels the West Coast and Mexico, painting huge Mexican-inspired murals in a style that is her own. No...

Big news: we have a new cohost! In our recurring “Tour Guide” bonus episodes, we ask transborder people to take us on a tour of a special place in the borderlands: a place that means a lot to them. Today, our new fronteriza cohost Natalie Gonzalez, along with our longtime fronterizo host Alan Lilienthal, take us on a tour of two of their favorite places in Tijuana and tell us more about their life...

Victor Lebowski, better known as the artist Tijuanauta, captures the beauty of the borderlands in his art. His detailed ink drawings are often a mishmash of U.S.-Mexico icons, like Star Wars and taco carts, or astronauts eating carne asada. But for a long time, Tijuanauta refused to sell his art or make art his day job. Instead, he hid behind the safety of his office job and cubicle for a decade....

Mexican musician Javier Bátiz could very likely have been world famous had he headed north of the border with his good friend and bandmate Carlos Santana back in the day. But instead, Javier went south to Mexico City, where he built a successful career in the country he loves. In a new episode of “Port of Entry,” we look into how Javier’s life, decisions and decades-long musical career have brough...

You know what they say about one man’s trash becoming another’s treasure, right? At the border, the journey from trash to treasure often involves an actual trip from San Diego to Tijuana, where things like furniture, appliances and other used or discarded objects find a second life. But, of course, those objects don’t move themselves. The whole cross-border, second-hand world involves people like...

From PRX and KPBS, "Port of Entry" is back with a new season on Oct. 13. We’re bringing you stories of border artists and musicians who’ve turned pain into superpowers.

Film director and animator Jorge Gutierrez grew up crossing the border between Tijuana and San Diego almost every day. That cross-border experience can be seen in the work Jorge does today. Jorge is the director of the animated movie, “The Book of Life.” He’s also one of the creators of the hit Nickelodeon show “El Tigre.” And he’s got several new projects coming out on Netflix soon. One of those...

In this bonus episode, meet a woman who takes people’s pets from San Diego to Tijuana for more affordable veterinary care. It’s a story about the great lengths we’ll go to for our furry friends. Meet other Port of Entry listeners by joining our Transborder group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/755492908437157 More info about MexiVet Express: https://www.mexivetexpress.com/ From KPBS a...

In a new “Port of Entry” bonus episode: One Baja chef’s pandemic story and the camera crew who followed it. Valle de Guadalupe has exploded over the last decade. It’s become a hugely popular wine and food destination for people from around the world. But when the pandemic hit, the flood of tourism to the culinary region just completely stopped at first, then slowly turned into a trickle. A new one...

On August 18, 1971, First Lady Pat Nixon stood at the place at the southwestern most point of the U.S.-Mexico border and celebrated what was envisioned as "International Friendship Park.” That day, Nixon said, “I hope there won't be a fence too long here.” Flash forward 50 years, and the small barbed-wire fence that once demarcated the border has been replaced with two large fences, dozens of came...

In this “Tour Guide” bonus episode, borderless artist Shinpei Takeda takes us on a tour of his exhibition, “Fantasia Moral” (“Moral Fantasy”), which is showing at the art museum in Tijuana, CECUT, through Aug. 8. “Port of Entry” is currently working on our next season, which will be released this fall. Until then, we hope you enjoy a few of these shorter bonus episodes in your feed. Follow “Port o...

Increasing numbers of asylum seekers are being allowed to enter the United States. But with the asylum system still severely curtailed, thousands remain stuck in dangerous conditions in Tijuana. KPBS reporter Max Rivlin-Nadler has been following the story for months. His reporting is featured in a new special report for the “KPBS Investigates” and “Port of Entry” podcasts. In the episode, Rivlin-N...

Phil Beaumont, lead vocalist of the San Diego band, The Color Forty Nine, has been belting out tunes since he was a kid living in England back in the ’70s. After he landed in Southern California for high school and college, he eventually made his way south to Tijuana to see show after show at the legendary music venue Iguana’s. Over time, Phil found himself crossing the border a lot, spending hour...

We continue our series on medical tourism at the border with a story about a plus-size model who’s proud of her big body, but has health issues that lead her to undergo weight-loss surgery in Tijuana, where it's more affordable. It’s a story about beauty and health and how a young woman is carving out her own corner of the world, creating a space where she fits in, no matter what size or shape or...

A California couple tries one more time to have a baby by crossing the border and getting fertility treatment in Tijuana. It’s a story about the lengths you’ll go through when the future you envisioned is suddenly out of reach. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our w...

We’re continuing our series on medical tourism at the border with a story about two women and their journeys to find more affordable insulin in Tijuana. It’s really a story about the fine line between life and death; the balancing act people with diabetes have to navigate every single day; and how crossing the line between the U.S. and Mexico can be a life raft. Follow “Port of Entry” online at ww...

From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” is launching a new series on medical tourism at the border today. Up first: We follow a San Diego woman as she crosses the border for alternative cancer treatments in Tijuana. This isn’t an investigation into the efficacy of alternative cancer treatments. Instead, it’s a story about one woman’s cross-border experience and her own personal convictions. Follow “Por...

Our local Latinx community has been hit hard by the pandemic; disproportionately hard. In today’s special episode, we share one border family’s battle with COVID-19. They explain how they’re using their story to help other Mexican-American families like theirs. It's a story about trust, and how living at the border can mean living in a place where trust sometimes requires translation. The Covarrub...

In these “Border Voices” bonus episodes, we feature shorter stories spotlighting people who identify as transborder, fronterizx or simply have something to say about how the U.S.-Mexico border has changed their lives. Today, meet Danya Gresham, an American expat who left behind her life in the U.S. so she could help take care of orphaned kids in Mexico. Connect with Danya here: https://www.buildth...

In these “Border Voices” bonus episodes, we feature shorter stories spotlighting people who identify as transborder, fronterizo or simply have something to say about how the U.S.-Mexico border has changed their lives. Today, meet Jesse Daner and Pamela Figueroa, a cross-border couple who met through their love of learning languages. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Fa...

Ramón Amezcua, better known as Bostich of Nortec Collective, is famous for blending the classic norteña sounds of Tijuana with electronic music. But making music and touring the world wasn’t always the plan for Ramon. He studied and practiced dentistry, and he thought he'd be filling cavities his whole life. Instead, he became one of the most influential pioneers of electronic music in Mexico. In...

We wrap up our series of cross-border love stories with a woman who totally changed her life; dropping what she was doing so she could help take care of some of the border region’s most vulnerable kids instead. It’s a story about kids in need of love, and one woman’s work to turn her own personal pain into power and purpose. Connect with Corazon de Vida: www.corazondevida.org Follow “Port of Entry...

Our series on cross-border love stories continues. Today, two families separated by deportation share stories about how their love keeps them connected despite the border wall between them. Episode art by @Deportedartist: https://www.instagram.com/deportedartist Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram...