Migration, Development, and Ciudad Juarez

This article by the New York Times illustrates several interesting intersections between globalization and migration and their affects on daily life in Ciudad Juarez, arguably the most dangerous and most trafficked Mexican border town through which Latin Americans immigrate to the United States. When NAFTA opened borders to lessen restrictions on legal trade across the US/Mexico border, illegal trade markets increased as well. As such, violence and danger associated with drug trade/other types of illegal trafficking (human, organ, etc) skyrocketed, particularly through the immigration hubs like Ciudad Juarez. I feel like this article is interesting because it not only acknowledges some of the negative consequences of neoliberalism (about which Maria spoke about in class last week), but it also portrays the way in which individuals on the ground level are trying to maintain hope and resume daily life activities in the face of the violence that has infiltrated their city for the past 10+ years. I just think that people often forget that innocent civilians who cannot uproot must live among these types of conditions day to day and maintain some sort of life for themselves. While several circumstances play into the situation in Juarez, some of the foundational problems, I would argue, do stem from the onslaught of the neoliberal era. Can you think of any positive stories that have run lately that come out of the borderlands? Why might the American media shy away from covering 'new angle' stories about situations happening at the border? Do you think this is a 'new angle' or at least coverage of a legitimate 'positive' situation, or do you think it's just a fluff piece that ignores the glaring issues?