This is page is archived. Please visit the CorpWatch Homepage for the latest information. Although Mexico has tough environmental laws, enforcement is lax.
Companies pollute freely, degrading the border environment.
Border communities report a deterioration of public health ranging from respiratory problems to skin irritations and neurological disorders believed to be caused by industrial pollution. These shared environmental concerns have led to some unprecedented cross-border organizing. Within maquiladora communities, even those who do not themselves work in the factories are adversely affected by the industry. Rachel Kamel and Anya Hoffman of the AFSC lay out the issues facing border communities. The growth of the maquiladora industry has generated increasing demand for natural resources from the rest of Mexico.