A Matter of Choice

Then... There's group of American women who are raising their families in the city that some people call "the murder capital of the world," Ciudad Juarez just over the Rio Grande River from El Paso. Because of immigration violations, their Mexican-born husbands have to stay in Mexico for at least ten years until they can make another attempt to come to the US. The women are determined to make a happy life there, which includes a pleasant afternoon picnic get-together, at a park just a few yards from the border itself.

Produced by Ann Heppermann with help from Debbie Nathan

Here's the Real Housewives of Ciudad Juarez blog

This American Life broadcast this earlier story about "Ciudad housewife" Emily Bonderer Cruz

A pleasant Juarez picnic

Courtesy of Ann Heppermann

Note: This episode originally aired on May 20, 2014.

Banner image courtesy of Simon Adler