Episode Summary
In this episode of The Expat Files, Johnny Mueller explores the growing interest in expat life in Latin America, the costs and dangers of coyote services, the release of gang members into the U.S., and the complexities of immigration policies affecting both expats and undocumented immigrants. He also shares insights on navigating social dynamics with deported individuals and the challenges of obtaining residency in Latin America.
Johnny begins by announcing an upcoming expat wisdom seminar in Guatemala, highlighting its affordability, accessibility from the U.S., and the strong gringo advantage. He outlines the seminar details, including dates, cost, and incentives for early registration, while cautioning against other expat seminars that may be more focused on real estate than genuine expat experiences.
He then discusses the costs and risks associated with coyotes, who facilitate illegal border crossings. Mexican citizens pay significantly less than other nationalities, with prices ranging from $500 to $1,000. Non-Mexican nationals, especially from Central America, face higher fees, often between $2,000 and $5,000. Asians, particularly Chinese, are the most expensive group for coyotes, with fees ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. Johnny also highlights the dangers faced by Central Americans during their journey through Mexico, including extortion, robbery, and kidnapping. He notes that a new 72-hour visa pass for Central Americans has been introduced, but coyotes have adapted by charging additional fees to ensure their clients can cross under the new law. Johnny criticizes the effectiveness of the law, suggesting it has been exploited by coyotes for financial gain.
The podcast segment then shifts to the release of Central American gang members and alleged murderers into the U.S. by border patrol agents, citing a loophole in U.S. regulations that allows for the release of individuals with family in the U.S. Johnny discusses the prevalence of deported illegal aliens in Latin America and their tendency to seek work, often with a superior attitude towards locals and expats. He shares anecdotes and insights from expat Eddie, highlighting the social dynamics and potential issues that arise from these interactions.
Johnny recounts an anecdote about a man he encountered at a booth, who was wearing a t-shirt that said 'support our troops.' He notes the man's broken English and his attempt to bond with Johnny, which Johnny finds amusing. He discusses how many deported individuals use broken English to start conversations with gringos and how they often lie about their origins. Johnny also talks about the tendency of Latin Americans to overstate their job histories on resumes, a practice he attributes to the polite nature of the society and the difficulty of verifying references. He advises listeners not to ask someone what they do for a living immediately, but rather to ask where they're from, as it's a more effective way to get information.
In another segment, Johnny discusses the situation of a man who was deported but still managed to obtain a real California driver's license. He expresses disbelief at how this was possible, leading to a broader discussion about California's policies toward undocumented immigrants. He references an article from the LA Times that highlights California's efforts to provide benefits and services to undocumented individuals, including driver's licenses and financial aid. He also touches on the political and demographic context of California, noting the significant Latino population and the state's approach to immigration. Johnny contrasts the ease with which undocumented immigrants can obtain documents with the difficulty faced by Americans trying to get residency in Latin American countries.
Finally, Johnny discusses the implications of illegal immigrants obtaining driver's licenses in Latin America, emphasizing how this can lead to access to various government programs and aid. He acknowledges the complexity of the issue but refrains from delving deeper, as the show's focus is on expats in the region. Johnny also mentions receiving emails from listeners, such as a Texan expat who feels the need to learn Spanish to navigate the local environment. He concludes by inviting listeners to stay tuned for future episodes and encourages them to visit the show's website for more information.
Topics
Expat life in Latin America, Expat wisdom seminars, Guatemala as an expat destination, Real estate vs. genuine expat experiences, Planning and logistics for expat seminars, Coyote fees, Central American migration, 72-hour visa pass, Illegal border crossings, U.S. border policy and release of gang members, Expat experiences with deported individuals in Latin America, Social dynamics and attitudes of deported individuals
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening 00:00:33 Announcement of the Expat Wisdom Seminar 00:01:32 Why Guatemala Was Chosen for the Seminar 00:02:34 Logistical Advantages of Choosing Guatemala 00:04:08 Incentives for Early Registration 00:04:58 Warning Against Disguised Real Estate Seminars 00:06:09 Coyote Fees for Non-Mexican Nationals 00:06:50 Chinese as the Most Expensive Group for Coyotes 00:09:39 The 72-Hour Visa Pass and Its Exploitation 00:11:03 Release of Central American Gang Members into the U.S. 00:12:30 Expat Experiences with Deported Individuals 00:16:12 The T-Shirt and the Broken English 00:16:34 The Deported Guy and His Appearance 00:17:23 Generalizations and Their Importance 00:21:24 The Man with a Valid Driver's License Despite Deportation 00:22:50 California's Sanctuary Policies and the Trust Act 00:26:10 Residency Requirements for U.S. Citizens in Latin America 00:26:32 The Complexity of Immigration Issues 00:27:08 Immigration and Its Relevance to Expats 00:27:36 Closing Remarks and Call to Action
Transcript
Automatically transcribed from the original recording; names and wording may contain errors.
[00:14] Hello there all you expat wannabes, I'm Johnny Mueller and you're listening to The Expat Files, living in Latin America. The show that tells you just what it's like to live, work, play and or retire down here in Latin America. It's a mix of the good, the bad, the ugly and the great and it's all right here so let's get started. Okay before we get into the program today, I'd like to announce once again another expat wisdom seminar in Central America. Since the last one that took place in July, I've gotten quite a few emails from people asking me when I'm going to do another. In fact, I've had more inquiries than ever. Seems like according to these emails anyway, their people are getting quite nervous about what's happening up in the states and really don't see much of a future up there. And it's really sad to say, but the truth is, as the emails have been flooding in, I've
[01:04] been picking up on that sentiment more and more. Some of them even have an edge of desperation to them. Anyway, jot this down. My next expat wisdom seminar will start on Saturday January 10th, 2015 through Thursday January 15th. So we're talking basically six nights and seven days. Now I know that's about three and a half months away, but that gives you a big head start on planning and working out your flight details. Again, you'll be landing in Guatemala and you know people ask me why Guatemala? Well it's not that this seminar is some kind of promotional ad for becoming an expat in Guatemala. It isn't. Though it's a nice off the gringo tourist trail place to get your feet wet and where
[01:49] the people just love us gringos. Therefore, the gringo advantage is quite strong. And believe me, even if you don't speak enough Spanish to order at Taco Bell, you'll pick up on that right away. And note, I do recommend certain parts of Guatemala for first world expats, though there are many other Latin countries off the gringo tourist trail, equally expat friendly. In fact, one of the many reasons for doing the seminar in Guatemala is to show attendees how a country that's way under the radar and one that gets bad marks from the U.S. State Department, etc. is actually a very excellent place for expats to live and do business. And of course, it has all the first world amenities too. Now, I could have selected another under the radar Latin country like El Salvador, Paraguay or Bolivia, etc. But flights to Guatemala from the USA are very frequent and much less expensive
[02:39] than many other off the gringo tourist trail destinations, especially South American destinations, which could cost twice as much as a trip to Guatemala and take twice as long or more, sometimes up to a full day with layovers. So Guatemala is only a two or three hour flight from most U.S. cities, not to mention, and this is important. I've developed some very good expat and local Latin business and social contacts in Guatemala. So I can get us into places and put you in contact with people that you'd never run into if you tried to do it on your own. And if you're wondering what it costs to fly in, well, for the last seminar, people were telling me the range was anywhere between 550 bucks and maybe 800 bucks. So by giving you a three and a half month head start on the seminar,
[03:26] that means you can keep shopping around for flights and get the lowest price. So if you sign up early, that's less running around at the last minute and less pressure. Anyway, for all you folks that emailed me early, I'll be sending you an email shortly with the link so you can sign up. Though I have all the details. I don't think I'll have them all up on the website, the expat wisdom website, that is, till a few days after this show goes out. So for all you other guys and gals out there who want to sign on early, just send me an email at the expat files at gmail.com. That's the expat files at gmail.com. And I'll send you the early bird link too. Oh, and by the way, if you sign up as a couple or two people sharing double occupancy in the hotel rooms, you'll get a $1,000 discount off the regular single person price.
[04:16] But you'll see that and all the details when you get the link. So jot it down. Saturday, January 10th, 2015 through Thursday, January 15th, 2015. And remember at least half the seminar will be boots on the ground. The way we set it up is that in the morning we have lectures and every afternoon and evening we hit the road. Now do remember this, if you're going to take any other expat seminar, like for example, international living or whatever, if they don't have an intensive boots on the ground portion, you might as well be taking that seminar at the Holiday Inn in Cleveland, because there's nothing like being right in the thick of it. And by the way, don't think because some outfit drives you to some new real estate project in
[05:02] Uruguay, that it's any kind of real boots on the ground experience. It's not. You have to recognize it for what it really is. In fact, I'd say 95% or more of all the so-called expat seminars out there are just disguised real estate spiel. So beware. Now I've said about that. And that brings me to last week's show, which surprise, surprise, I never did finish. Where in the end, I ran out of time discussing what Mexican coyotes are charging these days to bring illegals across the border to the States. So like I said last time, if you're a Mexican, that means you can make it all the way up to the border legally. I mean, you're a Mexican citizen. So all the coyote has to do is get you through to a safe house on the other side,
[05:49] the US side, of course, that's what they promise anyway. And for that, they charge anywhere from 500 to a thousand bucks ahead. Again, that's for a citizen of Mexico. However, if you're an OTM, that's O P E M E in Spanish, that's O T M meaning other than Mexican, you get charged a lot more generally from two to $5,000 for other than Mexican Latin nationals, 90% of which are coming from central America like Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, et cetera. And get this, coyotes will actually do volume discounts. So if you got a truck or a van load of people, like for example, if a whole extended family is trying to make it across,
[06:36] you can negotiate a 20 or 30% discount on the head rate. And this, I bet you never heard, did you know that Asians, especially the Chinese are the highest price of all per head coyotes just love bringing Chinese through because they get from 10 to 20,000 US ahead. And according to sources, they never book and they always have the cash. Whereas your average Latin illegal alien will often lie to the coyotes about having enough money and come up short, not short enough. So the deal doesn't come off, but short enough. So they get roughed up a bit and worse, which is why so many of them end up coming to the States in a kind of a busted up condition or worse. Now note that just in the last few weeks, things have changed in the coyote world. If you recall,
[07:24] I mentioned in a recent show that the president of Mexico and the president of Guatemala just signed an agreement allowing a free 72 hour visa pass for central Americans working their way through Mexico, obviously to get to the States, which at first glance seem to take a lot of pressure and heat off the illegals since it's always been dangerous and difficult traveling through Mexico on the way to the States. That part of the trip has always been their biggest fear. They're not necessarily worried about us immigration. They can handle that. It's those Mexican predators they have a hard time with because remember until now, until this 72 hour quick visa program, every single central American that slipped into Mexico to try to get to the States was also an illegal alien in Mexico and thus preyed upon by schemers and cops
[08:15] et cetera, et cetera. Now with assaults and robberies and extortions, kidnapping, human trafficking, et cetera, all on the Mexican side of the border. So since central Americans were illegals in Mexico, if anything bad happened to them like that, like an assault or a robbery and they reported it to the cops on the Mexican side, of course, since they were illegals there too. If they couldn't come up with some bribe money to pay the Mexican cops, they'd get a beating and get shoved into the slammer. So calling the cops in Mexico would be the last thing an illegal central American in Mexico would want to do. And now with this new 72 hour free pass, according to Mexican government press releases on the subject, which you can never really believe anyway, because Mexico's entire system is corrupt to the core and everyone these days
[09:04] seems to be in bed with the narcos. But anyway, that 72 hour amnesty law was initially intended to help the illegal migrants out to prevent them from constantly being abused and scammed as they made their way through Mexico to their final destination as illegals in the States. So ostensibly now they have 72 hours to be completely legal in Mexico as they work their way North. Whereas before they'd have to slip through clandestinely and find safe houses and pay off people and such. But somehow as these things always go, the new 72 hour pass law is not quite working out as planned. Duh, it figures. You see the coyotes of course don't want to lose their financial gravy train. So what they've been doing now,
[09:52] they're setting themselves up in Southern Mexico to intercept the central American illegals coming through right off the bat and hitting them with a new version of their extortion racket saying for an extra fee, of course, they can get them all the way through Mexico to the U S border in that 72 hour amnesty window. Otherwise they insist people coming up through central America will never make it in time. Then they'll just be illegals in Mexico again and bad things will happen. They're saying 72 hours is just too short a period. So then what is the fee for that? What are the coyotes charge? Well, sometimes it could be everything those central Americans have on them at the time. Anyway, the coyotes will propose by forking over this extra payment. They'll guarantee to get you through all the way to the U S border through
[10:40] Mexico under the wire under that 72 hour limit. So will they do what they promise? Are you kidding? They're coyotes for crap sakes. So as always with any law or any edict, there's always a scam or a loophole. And speaking of loopholes, you got to hear this one. This from the CBS news wire in Washington DC titled U S federal government is releasing murderers into the U S and it starts out saying U S border patrol agents are allowing central American murderers to be released into the general U S population. Speaking to Fox news on Wednesday, border patrol agent Chris Cabrera stated that these teenage gang members crossing the U S border and getting caught are being released to their family
[11:28] members residing in the U S quote, if they have a family in the United States, they'll be released to the family even if they are admitted gang members. In fact, we've had a couple who've admitted to murders in their home country. They were 17 and 16 years old and the United States government thought it fit to release them to their parents here in the United States. That's even if they're a confirmed gang member or murderer. Carrera blamed the release of these alleged gang members and murderers due to a loophole in a U S regulation concerning unaccompanied women and children, meaning we can't provide housing for unaccompanied women and children if they state when caught that they don't have family back in their home country.
[12:16] So as long as people claim they have no family back in their home country, then by law we have to settle them with their families in the States, even if they or their families are illegals. Now, are you okay with that? It's me again, Johnny. So you might think that I've been talking a lot about this illegal situation lately, Babylon on and on, but people want to know about this stuff and you might be thinking, what does that have to do with living down here in Latin America? If you're an expat or a part-time expat, retired, working, or otherwise. Well, the thing is, I assure you you're going to run into deported illegal aliens all the time. They're everywhere and they're going to try to warm up to you too, since they sort of have one foot in the first world and one in the third world and they don't know exactly where to belong, especially if they've been deported.
[13:04] And by the way, these guys, these deported guys and they're mostly men are going to want to work for you, gringo. And you might think because they know some English and have had a fleeting experience with life up in the first world that it could be a good idea. Well, look out, because a high percentage of these guys ended up in Latin ghettos in LA, Chicago, Atlanta, or whatever. And though they learned a bit of English, they also learned tricks from some of the baddest boys in town. So my advice, don't even think about it. Because like expat Eddie says, it's not that they're bad people because they've been deported, though, like you said, many of them are totally screwed up. The thing is, Eddie's had plenty of them as workers in his restaurants. And he says they're never quite as happy or quite as satisfied as your regular
[13:51] Latin American person who's never been through the meat grinder of going through Mexico to the States as an illegal and been deported. That track in itself hardens a person, kind of kicks the happy and wholesome Latin spirit out of them as Eddie puts it. And you know, like I might've mentioned in a past show and expat Eddie will confirm this a hundred percent when they come back after being deported, they really do feel superior to their fellow native citizens in the home country, basically copying a better than thou attitude. And that's why they want to warm up to us gringos whenever they encounter us. And that's why your average Latin worker doesn't like a deported Latin much either. Because to them, the other guy who's been to the States and knows a bit of English appears not
[14:38] only to be a little more aloof, but appears to the other workers to be sucking up to the gringo because occasionally he'll speak English to them, leaving the other workers feeling a bit out of the loop. And the locals in their home country, the ones that haven't been up to the States, the homegrown folks that aren't so worldly. They don't much like hanging around with deported folks either because they can really feel that hint of a superior attitude. In fact, my gardener once said to me, he doesn't get along much with his own brother because since he's come back from the States and yeah, get this, he never says he was deported. He just came back. Anyway, since he's come back, the guys turned into a bit of a know it all. Oh, and by the way, it always makes us expats laugh because people almost never say deported down
[15:27] here, even though everybody knows that's exactly what happened. And they almost never say illegal either. Expat Eddie says down here saying the word deported is like farting on your first date. Anyway, Latins who've been deported and sent back figure they are a bit superior to the neighborhood locals thinking in their minds that they're nearly gringos for the time they spent up in the States before they got deported. Gringos by osmosis of course. You get it, right? Anyway, here's a very recent example of that thick headed logic. About a week ago I was in Panama city Panama in a big department store waiting to use the best audio, which is that place the booth where you try on new clothes to see that they
[16:12] sufficiently hide your Turkey gobbler or your beer belly before you buy them. So I'm sitting waiting for my turn next to a guy who's got a t-shirt on that says in English, get this support our troops. And you know, that was one time I really wish I would have had a camera because I practically cracked up in his face. I mean, here's this five foot nothing little Brown Latin guy with about 80 pounds of Brill cream in his hair with camel pants and that shirt on. I'm thinking though I didn't say it who's true. So we supposed to be supporting Hugo Chavez's. So anyway, I'm sitting there long enough for this guy to start speaking to me in broken English, of course. And I'm thinking, oh no, here it comes again.
[16:58] I'm a captive audience sitting here minding my own business, waiting for my turn in the booth. And this guy wants to bond with me in broken English because he thinks he's kind of a gringo. Now I've been around and I know exactly how these deported guys start up a conversation with a gringo like me. Do permit me to generalize here a bit. Like I don't do it all the time, right? And for those of you who think I generalize way too much, just remember this life is all about generalizations. For example, if two guys with neck tattoos are walking right at you on the same side of the street, are you going to hold your ground as they pass? Or are you going to step to the side? Now, in that case, if you don't generalize, you're going to end up in the hospital. You get it. So here's my next generalization. Now there's two giveaways that show a guy's deported.
[17:47] One is that broken English with the street slang thrown in. And two is the fact that off the gringo tourist trail, your average Latin person has probably never spoken to a gringo before in his life. So they're way too timid to start a conversation, even if they have some English skills. In other words, it takes balls for a Latin to start up a conversation with a gringo. And believe me if there's one thing the average deported guy has is grand cajones, big balls. So I know how these guys start up conversations with gringos. It's happened to me a hundred times. Let's talk about the Bulls and the Yankees and Miami and Disneyland and Justin Bieber. So you smile a lot and you pretend that the guys got more than a sixth grade education and a room temperature IQ. Anyway,
[18:34] so I'm stuck there and I'm thinking, well, maybe this guy's got something interesting to say after all. I mean, he was wearing a one of a kind t-shirt and it really was one of a kind for down here. So I said, yeah, nice t-shirt. Where are you from? Which is another one of my standard lines because I know that if it's a deported person, they're going to lie. Now that's a given. Oh, and do note down here as opposed to up in the States, when you meet somebody, you don't instantly say, what do you do? What line of work are you in? That's something you almost never hear from people when you first meet them, not with your average guy or gal down here in Latin America anyway. And you know, it really doesn't do any good. You're not going to get very far by asking a person like that, someone you suspect anyway, who's been deported, what he does for a living.
[19:24] Because you got to know if a guy like that's been a leaf blowing engineer up in San Diego for the past couple of years, he's not going to tell you that. He's going to say something like car mechanic, bank teller, or Walmart clerk. And you know, seems like as a general rule, oops, there I go with the generalizations again. Oh well. Anyway, down here in Latin America, when you ask a person, especially a guy what he does for a living, he'll pick the highest level job he's ever worked before and lay that on you, no matter at the moment where he's working or not working. Talk about pumping up the resume. Like expat Eddie says, a guy who's seen hundreds, if not thousands of middle-class and upper middle-class Latin resumes, he says Latins are probably the world's best resume pumpers.
[20:12] And they get away with it because pretty much most of the time you can never really check their references and their past bosses. If you can locate them, just don't want to say anything negative about their former employees, even if they had to fire them. It is, you know, a very polite society and you got to love the Latins for that. As this little story, I hope will illustrate. So anyway, when you meet someone, don't ask right up front, what do you do for a living saying, where are you from works much better. Believe me. So I asked this little guy sitting next to me with the broken English and the support our troops t-shirt, where are you from? And he says, California. And I said, no, where are you from? Really? Then he says, you know, originally Cologne Panama, but I'm from up in the States, California.
[21:00] And this guy had really broken fourth grade English. If that, then I went through my usual routine and I said, how long did you live up there and how come you're not up there still? Always a painful question for someone who's been deported. Then he gave me a half smile and said he got sent back, but he's going to return as soon as he gets enough money. And then, believe it or not, he digs out his wallet and he pulls out a California driver's license. And I looked it over and believe me, it was real. The holograms, the RFID chips, the whole thing. And I was impressed. In fact, a bit shocked and I'm thinking how'd that happen? And he confirmed with tremendous pride that it was a real California driver's license. Then I said, but wait a minute,
[21:46] if you got deported because you weren't legal, I think I said sent back. I didn't use the D word because you know, well, you know, how'd you get that license? A legal license. He said in California, it doesn't matter. They don't care what your nationality is. No problem. He said, you can even fill the forms out in Spanish. Then he said, with pride, I filled out the ones in English. And you know, for me, this was the first time I actually saw anything like that. I've heard about it. That is being able to get us ID documents when you're an illegal and no, his documents did look good. In fact, they look great. I didn't completely believe that this guy got this thing legally until one of you guys out there in podcasts and radio land sent me a link to this
[22:33] article. Now listen to this carefully, because I know it's going to piss off a lot of you people out there. And maybe it'll be the straw that broke the camel's back. We can only hope. Anyway, according to the LA Times last Monday evening, governor Jerry Brown of California, while introducing Mexican president, Enrique Peña Nieto said to the audience, America is the other Mexico. Governor Brown spoke of the interwoven histories of Mexico and California. He nodded to the immigrants in the room and said, it didn't matter if they had permission to be in the United States or not. Governor Brown said, you're all welcome in California. In fact,
[23:19] the LA Times said, governor Brown has made California a sanctuary state by signing the trust act. That's the trust act, giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. The governor has also extended financial aid to illegal immigrants by signing the California dream act. That's the dream act. Have you ever heard of those two acts? I haven't till now. Anyway, the president of Mexico, Peña Nieto reportedly thanked California state officials for embracing Latin foreigners, citing the appreciation of measures that extend California state benefits to illegals. Then it says here, governor Brown vowed, quote,
[24:06] to find ways to shorten long border weights at the Tijuana, San Diego international border crossing saying, quote, if we could put a man on the moon, we could get a man from Mexico to California in 20 minutes. Now, the article goes on to say in 2012, 28% of Californians were born outside of the United States, according to the New York times. And according to Pew research, Latinos now make up 40% of California's population. Latinos have made California only the second state behind New Mexico where whites are no longer the majority. It goes on to say, even though the university of California has admitted a record number of Hispanics, the California legislature's Latino caucus has vowed,
[24:55] affirmative action and bilingual education are their top legislative priorities. Meanwhile, the president of Mexico and Enrique Peña Nieto, I thank you for that. We'll be addressing the California state legislature this Tuesday. Okay. So now I don't want to go on and on about this immigration thing. I'm just trying to tell you what it's like down here. When you meet these guys who've been deported and I'm telling you, they really do think the U S is the promised land. Now, think of it. You and I, American citizens can come down here to Latin America and we cannot get a driver's license unless we actually apply for and get residency in a Latin American country first. And that can take a year or two or more.
[25:43] And we have to prove financial means and stability, provide a good conduct report from the police or FBI from your home state or county. And in many cases, you have to make a substantial investment in land or in a business to the tune of 50,000 bucks or more. In other words, gringos have to jump through a number of expensive and time consuming hoops just to be granted residency. I'm not talking citizenship. I'm talking residency and you need that to get a Latin driver's license. Now, of course you can drive on your U S license down here practically forever. And if you're off the tourist trail, it doesn't really matter if it's expired or not because the average cop with a sixth grade education down here can't really tell. That said, that makes California law on the subject of licenses so fast and loose,
[26:32] it's practically impossible to believe. If I didn't have the facts right in front of me, I wouldn't believe it myself. Now, you know that's just a stepping stone, the driver's license bid. Once an illegal has a driver's license up there, they can apply for all kinds of programs and government aid, but let's not go there. That's not what this show is about. The only saving grace for me is that you're paying for it. And I'm not. Now, like I said, I don't want to say too much more on the subject except for this lately since I've been talking about this immigration thing, as it relates to expats down here in Latin America, and it does have some bearing on us. So that's why we're talking about it. Naturally, I've been getting emails to that effect. Like, for example, I'm getting some like this. Dear Johnny,
[27:18] I live in Texas myself and sometimes think I have to learn Spanish just to get around, but here's what I want to know. Oops. I guess we're not going to find out today. We'll keep that angry email for next time. So do stay tuned. You won't want to miss this. You've been listening to the expat files living in Latin America, coming to you twice a week from somewhere south of the border. Email me the expat files at gmail.com. And don't forget to check out expatwisdom.com to sign up for your free reports on Latin America. See you next time.