Mónica Ortiz Uribe

Mónica Ortiz Uribe is a public radio reporter based along the U.S./Mexico border. She lives andworks in her hometown of El Paso, Texas as a correspondent for KJZZ in Phoenix. Mónica covers immigration, drug violence and international trade among other subjects.

Migrants from Central America are seen escorted by US. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials after crossing the border from Mexico to surrender to the officials in El Paso, Texas in this pictured taken from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

In El Paso, a border city grows uneasy over shutdown

January 23, 2019Immigration

The federal government is a major employer in El Paso, one of the largest cities along the US-Mexico border. The shutdown has affected thousands of customs, Border Patrol and drug enforcement agents who are reporting to work without pay.

A man wearing a Santa Claus costume arrives in a pickup truck in El Paso, Texas.

In this Texas border town, Santa patrols on Christmas

December 25, 2018Immigration

The vaquita marina is a critically endangered porpoise species that lives only in the northern part of the Gulf of California. Scientists believe the population may be down to just 30 animals.

Adios, vaquita marina? Mexico’s ‘little sea cow’ is being pushed to the edge of extinction.

April 12, 2017Environment

Mexican singer Juan Gabriel performs at the 10th annual Latin Grammy awards in Las Vegas, Nevada November 5, 2009.

Border fans mourn loss of Mexican superstar Juan Gabriel

September 2, 2016Culture

Astronomer Al Grauer and his wife Annie were instrumental in getting a dark sky sanctuary designation for the Cosmic Campground in New Mexico. The recognition came from the International Dark Sky Association.

A place where the stars are so bright you can see your shadow by starlight

July 29, 2016Science

Mexico’s justice system gets an extreme makeover

June 17, 2016Justice

A study says 98 percent of crimes in Mexico go unsolved. The nation is changing its justice system to try to change that.

Romayne Wheeler's Steinway & Sons grand piano was transported from the city of Guadalajara and now sits inside his home on the edge of a cliff in the Sierra Tarahumara.

This Mexican canyon is alive with the sound of music

April 1, 2016Music

In northern Mexico, there’s a place called Copper Canyon. It cuts six slits into the Earth and hidden between the cliffs and valleys is where an American concert pianist has decided to settle with his one-ton grand piano.

Workers in Mexico’s border factories say they can barely survive, so they’re turning to unions

February 29, 2016Business

Factory workers in Ciudad Juárez now make only 40 percent of what Chinese factory workers do, on average. For the first time, efforts to unionize are meeting with some limited success.

Chef Thierry Marceaux at his restaurant in Las Cruces, New Mexico

This French chef says Katrina changed his life, perhaps for the better

August 31, 2015Culture

French chef Thierry Marceaux lost his job at a five-star hotel in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit the city. The storm also destroyed his home. So he left the bayou and moved to the desert, and started over.

How returning home to Mexico gets complicated after years in the US

March 25, 2015Economics

In this small city in Mexico’s Yucatán, the choice between staying near family or earning more in the United States leaves some people restless.