Border Wall . A Story About Women and Justice

Border Wall

“Officer, my daughter is 10 years old," I say.

“Yes, ma’am.”

And I’m 56…” I say … “I haven’t had … I haven’t been fertile for … years.”

“I understand, ma’am … and you understand I’m not allowed to take your word for that.”

“About which?” I say….

“Either,” they say. “It’s a requirement ... I think you know that…”

“10 years old, officer…”

“Yes ma’am … Is this gonna a problem? Do you want to pull out of line so we can process the motorists behind you?”

“I want my child to see her grandmother before she dies.”

“Understood,” the officer says … “The shortest route to that is both of you taking the test.”

“I’m 56 … she’s 10….”

“Understood,” the officer says, and, “Do you want pull out of line?”

“No … I … How does this work?”

“You may use your own kit if I watch you open it —“

“You’re going to watch me?”

“I have to watch you open the kit — if you use your own — so I can scan the number before you enter the testing area.”

“I don’t believe this,” I say … “I’m fif — this is not the country I grew up in….”

“If you prefer, I’ll provide kits and charge your debit or credit card.”

“What if I don’t have a card?”

“There’s a turnout ahead, so you can return the way you came.”

“Well, we don’t have ‘kits’ do we … why would we?”

“Two kits, then, ma’am. Pick any lane ahead and enter the test area … Entering the test area constitutes your permission to be observed via infrared camera. Follow the instructions on the kit. After placing your samples in the reader, pull forward to the holding area until your number comes up — either Green or Red — then follow the signs. Do you understand?”

“Yes … I — do you? … officer? understand?”

“Ma’am … It’s your right to use the turnout lane and go back the way you came.”

“This is law enforcement now? Seriously?”

“Serious as a pregnancy test, ma’am.”

I realize my daughter has been pulling at my sleeve. "Can we just go back?" she whispers.

"Baby, I don’t know," I say … "I don’t know if it’s that simple."