Left behind at the border

Where Baja California meets California, along a commonly-crossed section of the U.S.-Mexico border fence, discarded items tell stories about the people who left them behind.

A bottle of water, perched upright and half full – or half empty? – seemingly ready for someone to take a sip.

Sturdy pieces of wood, perhaps parts of an improvised ladder.

Bedding neatly folded among the trees.

A baby’s stroller, weathered by the elements.

It makes you wonder who these things once belonged to. Where are they now? Are they in a better place than the possessions they left behind?

Corinne Chin, 2019 U.S.-Mexico Border Fellow