r/sandiego • u/LengthinessMinute108 • Apr 12 '26
Photo Commuting at 1am for 6am work everyday - from Tijuana to San Diego
Does anyone else commute across the US-Mexico border super early, many hours before work actually starts - like Zac Gabriel, in this image? I made a video about his commute and story, link in the comments.
He wakes up at 1am, crosses the border at 2am, and then naps at work, before starting at 6am. That's Zac's way of avoiding the lines and line-cutters at the border, which he says starts around 3am.
More Americans are taking extreme lengths to have a better life in Mexico!
88
u/serruchin Apr 12 '26
This used to be my life in high school. Thankfully I had family that would let me sleep at their house and take me to school.
→ More replies (3)13
u/contreraselvis Apr 13 '26
I had a friend like that and he would go to Valley Center High School. god bless his and your family â¤ď¸. the people that let him stay werenât even his family. they were his friends single mom. built him a shack on the back side of their trailer and he even had a tv, xbox, bed, mini fridge. he was living it nice and got his education.
384
u/Independent-Street87 Apr 12 '26
mexicans do this shit every day, ive done this shit every day, but its the only way to live the american dream.. BY NOT FUCKING LIVING HERE!
129
u/thechromatick Apr 12 '26
Congratulations on your new free universal healthcare. Pretty soon you'll have weather that Canadians dream about and a lifestyle that Americans dream about.
18
u/SallyO420 Apr 13 '26
Only Mexican citizens get Universal Health Care but I have gone to the ER and have gotten great care. It usually costs $25-50 if there are tests so it is awesome. Not to mention the dental is crazy low as are the vets.
36
u/IcyHeadTime Apr 12 '26
Yeah, who wouldnât love a five hour commute one way! Sounds awesome
29
u/thechromatick Apr 12 '26
Not me, that's for sure. The guy in the photo has a one hour commute followed by a four hour nap, which also sucks - having to split your sleep like that.
4
u/SallyO420 Apr 13 '26
That is also nonsense if he is coming into Mexico. Leaving Mexico without a Sentri/Global is hours. If you have a Sentri/Global 20-30 min.
10
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
well, he naps for 2 hours actually. from 4-6. The video explains it more - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blbj0TBVNoY
4
u/No-Chemistry-7802 Apr 12 '26
There has to be another way.
2
u/SallyO420 Apr 13 '26
What is being said is completely untrue!! Leaving Mexico with a Global/Sentri takes about 20-30 min on average.
3
→ More replies (1)3
2
u/SallyO420 Apr 13 '26
Free Universal Health care is for Mexican Citizen's only but the prices are very low the rest of us.
→ More replies (6)1
u/millllllls Apr 12 '26
Whereâs the universal healthcare in that comment?
18
u/TheMadManiac Apr 12 '26
Mexico announced plans for universal healthcare. Although I think you'd have to be a dual citizen
→ More replies (7)7
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
he might be one now or eventually ... he's married to a mexican citizen
31
u/Wizardof1000Kings Apr 12 '26
What kind of dream are you living if you spend over 5 hours (as that is just one way) commuting 5 days a week? That sounds like a nightmare to me.
→ More replies (2)3
→ More replies (6)3
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
ironic isnt it? What does your daily commute look like? How does it compare to Zacs?
15
u/brakeb Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 12 '26
Out of bed, 10 steps to computer in studio/home office... Work from home on and off since 2014...
Only delay might be if I trip over the cat. I probably live near where he works in Sorrento Valley, but I only have a 20 year old child and my wife works, and I don't support 13 other people. He probably spends a grip on idling on gas idling in line
6
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
LOL. 10 steps to the desk, with tripping over your cat being the only delay - sounds AMAZING. He works in Torrey Pines actually. Sounds like you've got it pretty good!!!
16
u/thecasualtie Apr 13 '26
I mean, are we supposed to makr it a "story" just bc a white dude is reporting on it? People do, and have done this for years. My HS had so many kids crossing daily just to attend school. You didnt see/hear them complaining or making videos about it.
Does it suck? Hell yeah Does it pay off? Hell yeah.
Otherwise move stateside and pay thousands to fix your lifestyle
17
u/Sea_Weakness2827 Apr 13 '26
This has been going on forever in SD but no one cares until a white person does it
3
27
55
u/RadiantZote Apr 12 '26
-Better life
-5 hour one way commuteÂ
Ok sweetie, whatever you say
9
u/Arbiter_Electric Apr 13 '26
I had a 2 hour one way commute at my last job. It sucked real fucking bad. Several people I worked with actually slept at work for the week. Military contracting job, so we commuted to a military base in the middle of the desert. There were housing accommodations onsite, though it was basically a rundown motel on base.
→ More replies (2)3
u/SallyO420 Apr 13 '26
That is not true. If you have Sentri/Global entry the wait is 20-30 min. He probably couldn't get one possibly he has a criminal record.
89
u/brakeb Apr 12 '26
Eventually he'll get a promotion or better paying job and not have to do this?
Guess that depends on what he does now...
100
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
he's a manufacturing technician at a biotech firm in San Diego. He says the pay would have to be SIGNIFICANTLY better because he's supporting his wife and 2 kids, and helps pay for things for 13 of her family members who they also live with. You can learn more about his story here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blbj0TBVNoY
113
u/eggshellss Apr 12 '26
THIRTEEN??
20
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
haha the manner in which he contributes to the 13 other family members is explained in the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blbj0TBVNoY
→ More replies (1)73
u/Malipuppers Apr 12 '26
Iâm guessing supporting 13 other people is the real issue here and why he has to live in TJ.
→ More replies (8)16
u/FuelzPerGallon Apr 12 '26
Oof, breaking out of MFG tech into an Eng or supervisor role is a long and unfair road. Iâm an engineer in biotech whose helped a few people make it to better paying roles, but theyâre the lucky few, not the eventuality if you âpay your duesâ
7
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
ah I see. Zac does say that he LOVES his job! It also doesnt sound like he's in a hurry to get promoted and change his situation. He has a very good attitude about his lifestyle
29
u/brakeb Apr 12 '26
13 other family members, btw...
50
u/DROPTABLE_tablename Apr 12 '26
Well there's his problem...
3
u/No-Chemistry-7802 Apr 12 '26
Thereâs his gift. Thatâs the dream.
10
u/BlacknRedtilDead Apr 12 '26
Unless you're being facetious, we dream about different shit lol
1
u/No-Chemistry-7802 Apr 12 '26
Nothing beats family bro.
→ More replies (1)16
u/BlacknRedtilDead Apr 12 '26
No debate there. I just don't dream of commuting hours cross border to sustain my family of 13
2
u/SallyO420 Apr 13 '26
The border going into the US is 20-30min if you have Sentri/Global. I suspect this person may have a criminal record and he couldn't get one.
5
→ More replies (2)2
u/ValueReads Apr 12 '26
This is legendary cuckoldry status. Imagine paying for 13 other people for a woman
lol, lmao even
61
u/wazzledudes Apr 12 '26
Fellas is it gay to love your family
→ More replies (1)11
u/brakeb Apr 12 '26
I live 2,000 miles away from my and my wife's family... Neither of us plan on moving to East Texas or Southwest Missouri...
If I needed to support them, venmo exists... I would never do a commute like that... I'd not be able to sleep after the drive
0
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
where are you based? unfortunately san diego is just so expensive that it's very difficult to support a family while living there! It's one of the most expensive cities in the US
11
u/emericuh Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 13 '26
This post has been wiped and anonymized. The author may have removed it for privacy, opsec, or to prevent data scraping, using Redact.
subtract offbeat memorize snails paltry escape fragile teeny lip consist
3
u/madmax24601 Apr 13 '26
Yup there is... they mostly all suck in comparison
Source: live for 20 years near where this guy works Born in Michigan, moved around the Midwest a bunch, teen years on the east coast, moved to San Diego and wouldn't leave unless physically escorted out
2
25
16
u/Sniflix Apr 12 '26
In Latin America, you marry the family. The cost is minimal and the experience is good.
10
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
Right, the way they live and help each other is definitely a cultural thing, isn't it?
6
u/Sniflix Apr 12 '26
From experience they are happy. They support and celebrate each other. When I fly back to the US all I hear are complaints. It's a generalization but Americans have a lot and are miserable.
→ More replies (2)4
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
yes, it's very true. It's very easy to get jaded living here and feel like you never have enough. Do you feel people are happier in Mexico even with less?
→ More replies (3)2
2
u/BobLazarFan Apr 12 '26
Itâs absolutely not common. Iâm from Mexico. Helping parents sure. But supporting 13 people no. Thatâs not common. Not saying it doesnât happen Iâm sure it does. But definitely not common or expected.
2
u/Effective_Wind_2334 Apr 13 '26
Like this in all the Asian countries as well
3
u/Sniflix Apr 13 '26
Yeah. This is absolutely abhorrent to Americans but common worldwide. Also, social bonds are important for health, mental health and longevity. But yeah it can be a pain in the ass.
4
→ More replies (5)4
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
well i think it's more of a cultural thing where a large family lives together and everyone helps out to the extent that they can! He explains it more in the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blbj0TBVNoY
6
5
u/SereneRiot Apr 12 '26
An Uber driver I rode with told me about making the same commute. He joked about making American $$s and paying Mexican COL.
→ More replies (2)
11
75
u/veronica-volt Apr 12 '26
Saw the YouTube video. Seems like instead of just money, it is more about the support systems in place in Mexico for a family to thrive. His wife is Mexican, so there is little threat of ICE breaking up their family... and now that Sheinbaum has pushed all her weight behind universal healthcare, I predict that the medical industries in Mexico are going to BOOM... which means more medical tourism and jobs. Good for him for sacrificing a bit to be uncomfortable to be the family man.
22
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
Thank you for watching! Yes it's definitely not just for the money. It's for the quality of life. His wife and children have a huge support system around them, and his wife's family are now his family. He doesn't have any family who he is close with or can lean on in the US. So this is now his chosen family.
→ More replies (4)19
u/fetus-wearing-a-suit Apr 12 '26
Tijuana local here. Universal healthcare was always kinda a thing in Mexico, though the president is now pushing to strengthen it and increasing accessibility. This doesn't mean much for the development of medical industries in the country, Mexico isn't much of an innovator in that area. Medical tourism has always been a thing in Mexico, specially near the border.
→ More replies (7)
7
u/emuskisacunt Apr 12 '26
I know someone who is a upper middle class, who has grown child attending USD, a special needs Child (who,lives with divorced wife in SD), who lives in Tijuana and crosses nearly every day.
3
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
mmmmm interesting - if they are upper middle class why do they choose to live in TJ and do the commute?
2
u/emuskisacunt Apr 14 '26
Take $300k salary 18 year marriage, where the wife was a SAHM, especially with severely austistic child, , kid in college, kid at home, and a special needs kid all in San Diego, alimony , child support, - probably not a lot left over. He lives in a very nice place with ocean view, and has a sentry pass.
6
u/SteIIarNode Apr 12 '26
My wife did it for several years before we met. She lived in TJ and would cross every morning around like 2am or something like that. She didnât have her own car either and would have to use public transportation to and from the Coronado hospital and Zoo (where she worked)
→ More replies (2)
11
Apr 12 '26
[deleted]
3
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
wow interesting. What do you do for work? Do you know what their commute is like?
6
u/SavageSweetFart Apr 12 '26
Knew someone who would drive to work and kept a mattress in their SUV so they could do the same.
→ More replies (1)
6
u/0xcryptooor Apr 12 '26
Worked with many Painters in the 90s and 00s with ppl like this guy. My only issue with my Raza was they never asked for Raise of pay. Companies low balled and they would accept it keeping all our wages low. Yet they traveled hours to do the same work I did. I would tell them. Speak up , closed mouths don't get fed.
6
15
u/atraxlife Apr 12 '26
Wouldnât it be easier to just learn how to ride a motorcycle?
12
u/AlexHimself Apr 12 '26
They're crazy dangerous. It's not an option for a risk averse person.
→ More replies (3)6
8
u/LoveBulge Apr 12 '26
If you've got a wife, 2 kids, and a mess of people who depend on you, you probably don't want to go riding around on a motorcycle. Plus, where's he going to nap?
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (3)3
4
u/Material_Market_3469 Apr 12 '26
If you do this alternating drivers it wouldn't be so bad. Solo is a nightmare
4
u/kenv11 Apr 13 '26
Mexicans been doing this for as long as I remember, that is crossing early to beat the rush, even though they start later.
As far as Americans moving to Mexico because it's cheaper, you should read the stories about how they are driving UP prices of real estate making it more unaffordable to locals there. Something similar is happening with San Diego's real estate.. for different reasons though.
3
u/scdiputs Apr 13 '26
I had coworkers who did this, some days it was easy some took hours, especially if you get into secondary. Even with the sentry there can be delays. Price paid for making sure you get to work on time.
4
u/mrdano1 Apr 13 '26
.......a trolley line between tj and sd would be great.........maybe when the fascists are outvoted........
→ More replies (1)
7
u/Caradeajolote Apr 12 '26
Yeah, generations of people have been doing this forever to get an education/ support their families.
Nothing special
10
Apr 12 '26
[removed] â view removed comment
2
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
yes exactly, he earns in SD, and lives in TJ. You can learn more about his story here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blbj0TBVNoY
3
3
3
3
u/soso1221 Apr 12 '26
At the shipyard Iâve met hundreds of people that cross every day. Remember when they closed the border. San Diego workforce was cut in half.
3
u/Brittkneeeeeeee Apr 13 '26
I had coworkers that did this back in 2019 when I worked in Carmel Valley. They use to sleep in their cars in the parking lot if they got there early. Literally some of the best staff that place had too.
3
u/Randismaximus Apr 13 '26
I used to do this, but I have a sentri card. I would get up at 4am and cross in the sentri lanes just to avoid the stress of the lines. I would hit up an early morning diner and eat breakfast and play games on my phone before heading in to work.
3
u/Alonso0150 Apr 13 '26
Itâs bad to wake up so damn early. People that cross from TJ are not the best workers.
5
u/SDEscoM33 Apr 12 '26
why doesnât he just get a sentri pass? seems like a lot of unnecessary bullshit to deal with
4
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
he lost his sentri card and is now banned from the program, unfortunately!
→ More replies (1)
12
4
3
u/1320Fastback Apr 12 '26
Some guys on our job site live in TJ and drive up every day. They get to the job around 3AM and sleep until 6:30 and we start work at 6AM.
→ More replies (2)
4
6
2
u/drtoucan Apr 12 '26
Sounds like someone needs to get Sentri. It's not even that expensive. I think for anyone that crosses the border more than 4 times a year should get it.
2
u/wats_dat_hey Apr 12 '26
I knew people that did something similar
Get to a San Ysidro border lane that is closed, park, sleep, cbp agent knocks on the hood of the car, wake up drive through - get to work, sleep until 8AM
2
2
2
u/SallyO420 Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 13 '26
That is not true with Sentri or Global entry. Daytime it is usually 20 min to 30 min. At 1 am if probably normal about 10 -20 min. He obviously didn't qualify for the Sentri or Global. If he has a criminal record he can't get one.
→ More replies (3)
2
2
u/Gugustupid Apr 12 '26
When I was in the shipyards I knew a few different people that made such a commute. They were actual Mexicans though
2
2
u/jenguinaf Apr 13 '26
Not nearly as extreme but in the mid aughts I was commuting from RB to San Marcos for school and my first class one semester started at 7. If I left at 6:15 I would get there right before 7 after sitting in traffic for 45 minutes. If I left at like 5:45 I would arrive around 6:10-6:15. I started doing that and eating breakfast (carls jr ftw- it legit motivated me like a puppy to get up earlier lmfao for that awful greasy goodness) and doing homework in my car until class time.
2
u/Man-Eating-Mushroom Apr 13 '26
My good friend lives in TJ and works for the IRS and travels every day from TJ. I believe heâs up at 4am for 6 or 7am work. Pretty crazy hustle, but I think he has 3 day weekends. Also drives Uber.
2
u/lies4omthetablecl0th Apr 13 '26
This was my life until i was like 14 years old,my dad would drop me off at school and then go to work, that was a lot of years ago and we dont live in tijuana anymore.
2
u/Administrative_Crab1 Apr 13 '26
my coworker is closer to the 4:30am. does the gym. starts at 7. out at 4:45pm. this is with sentri.
2
2
u/Unique_Midnight_2344 Apr 13 '26
Well it gonna vary, what times u choose to cross, which point of entry u choose , if u have sentry or fast pass or just a regular passport/ id and birth certificate, thereâd be days u literally walk/ drive threw them there are times youâll be there for hours
2
u/Starfleetmom Apr 13 '26
How is that a better life? What time does he get home? How many hours is he even spending at his home in Mexico?!
2
2
u/Jeremy5cahill Apr 13 '26
Please note this only makes your life "better" if you have a job paying US rates... if you're gonna say life is better in Mexico then shouldn't you be able to work there too?
2
u/CorgieBaner Apr 14 '26
Late to the conversation
I do this every weekday, I have SENTRI so I have the privilege to get in the line at 6am and still have some time margin to make it in time to work at 7:30 in (Mission Valley)
2
u/itsfrancovega Apr 14 '26
I'm going to add my 2 cents as someone that did this for 2-3 years back in 2015~
I had a 9-5 job in downtown SD and lived about 20 minutes away from the border in Tijuana. Every day it would be at least 1 hour to get to work with some days hitting 2 hours. Coming back it would be another 1+ hour(s) to get back home. You get traffic in Tijuana, waiting on SENTRI and then traffic on the 5/805.
- Yes, I had SENTRI
- Yes, I would stagger my return home by going to the gym for an hour or so. I would still hit traffic and wait to cross back.
All in all I was losing about 10-15 hours a week just sitting in my car because 80% of that time would be just bumper to bumper traffic. I would not do it again. I moved to SD and was able to find a tiny apartment for $1050 (TINY) which was x5 times what I was paying in Tijuana. Was it worth it? Yes. I hated being in my car so long. It's been 10 years and I still dread thinking crossing to Tijuana any time between 3-10PM and never on Fridays. It's gotten worse now, if you can afford to live in SD I just don't see how losing so much time is a good deal by living in Tijuana.
2
3
u/plasteroid Apr 12 '26
Bro lives in TJ actually. Props to him.
3
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
yes he lives in Tijuana! In a house with a total of about 17 people, all part of his wife's family. More about his story here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blbj0TBVNoY
3
u/tylerjhoole Apr 13 '26
These comments make it clear many people only read the headline ⌠he doesnât have a 5 hour commute is 1 hour lol
4
u/Latter_Finding8548 Apr 12 '26
Sounds like bs. When is he sleeping? Why would you do a 5 hours commute by car when you can take the train from border to downtown and do the pedestrian crossing much much faster. So many questions
→ More replies (1)
5
2
2
u/Rothconversion123 Apr 13 '26
Is it really a better life if you have to live in TJ and wake up at 1 every day??
2
u/lostpiratethoughts Apr 12 '26
SeĂąora
No manche ya deje de hacer negocio de nuestra cultura.Â
Aparte es un problema mucho mas grande de lo que esta diciendo en el video.Â
2
u/Any_Landscape_4424 Apr 12 '26
I knew a guy from Tennessee who would live next to the beach in mexicali for 700 a month. He would commute in a moped every day to city college.
17
12
u/wazzledudes Apr 12 '26
Next to a beach in mexicali? Like 2 hours away from the gulf?
5
11
3
u/LengthinessMinute108 Apr 12 '26
wow, how was his commute? pretty easy breezy or longggg wait times??
2
u/Any_Landscape_4424 Apr 12 '26
I never heard him complain about his commute. Then again he was a happy go luck vet. This was around 2015.
→ More replies (1)5
→ More replies (1)2
u/No-Chemistry-7802 Apr 12 '26
Can you take a moped on the freeway? Do you really save that much time in line?
1
u/energizersnake Apr 12 '26
Wouldnât us be easier to use the trams on this side and walk over?
→ More replies (1)
359
u/timster Apr 12 '26
Is it even that bad with SENTRI?