Saludos desde México

Greetings from Guadalajara, Mexico. I am here for the week to gain a better understanding about what's happening with migration in Mexico. I'm participating in an educational program run by the Rhizome Center for Migration. HUGE hat tip to immprof David Baluarte (CUNY) for posting information about the program to the listserv.

My orientation begins in 30 minutes, which gives me just enough time to post these photos of immigration at the airport in Guadalajara.

The processing in Mexico was very similar to the processing I went through in England last summer. As an American, I went through the fancy electronic lanes that are in the upper left corner of the photo below.

Here's a poster outlining which countries are eligible to use the automated lanes. Fancy company.

And instructions on how to use the automated system:

Follow the green line:

The process went lickety-split. I placed my passport on the scanner and glass doors opened to let into a little channel. I was then photographed. Then I received a ticket before a second set of glass doors opened to let me out of processing. As you can see, I am supposed to show my ticket when I return on Saturday.

There were only a few differences between the Mexican & English processes. One was the ticket. I did not get or need that in the UK. Second, after going through this step I had to go through customs. I had to fill out a sheet explaining that I wasn't bringing large amounts of money (or animals or dirt) into Mexico--that area had many signs admonishing against photography. I was instructed to press a button, which determined if I would be subject to randomized secondary screening. I wasn't, woot woot.

Before I knew it, I was out the door and at the taxi station. Easy peasy.

-KitJ