“Border Security vs. Basic Needs: The Struggle for Water and Healthcare in Border Towns”

ProPublica and The Texas Tribune have collaborated on an in-depth investigation into the challenges faced by residents living along the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite receiving billions of dollars in government spending for immigration enforcement, many border communities remain among the nation’s poorest places. The region shows a stark contrast between the significant investment in border security and the lack of improvement in residents’ quality of life.

In Texas, 30,000 border residents lack access to reliable drinking water, while in Arizona, 205,000 people on the border with Mexico are hours away from a full-service hospital. The disparity between the size of federal and state governments’ investment in the region and the residents’ quality of life is evident.

Residents in towns like Del Rio, Texas, and Douglas, Arizona, continue to face challenges despite the influx of funds for border security. In Del Rio, families like Cierra Flores’ struggle with limited access to running water, relying on neighbors for water during droughts. The lack of basic resources in these communities highlights the ongoing struggle for essential services.

In Douglas, Arizona, the closure of the Southeast Arizona Medical Center nearly a decade ago has left residents without a full-service hospital. Nina Nelson’s son had to be airlifted to Tucson for medical care due to the absence of adequate healthcare facilities in the town. Mayor Jose Grijalva is advocating for the reopening of a hospital in Douglas to address the healthcare needs of the community.

While funds for border security projects like walls and National Guard deployments provide a short-term economic boost, they often overlook the long-term needs of residents. The focus on border security has diverted attention and resources from critical infrastructure projects like water access and healthcare facilities.

State and federal programs to fund water infrastructure and healthcare facilities continue to fall short of the need in these border communities. Organizers and elected officials express frustration with the slow progress on essential services while funds are allocated to border security initiatives.

The investigation sheds light on the challenges faced by residents living along the U.S.-Mexico border and calls for a reevaluation of priorities to address the pressing needs of these communities. The disparity between the significant investment in border security and the lack of improvement in residents’ quality of life underscores the urgent need for a more comprehensive approach to address the issues faced by border communities.