Julio C. Ortiz-Franco
Producer/Editor, Port of EntryAt KPBS, Julio C. Ortiz-Franco produces the podcast "Port of Entry," focusing on cross-border life. A U.C. Berkeley philosophy graduate, Julio is a writer, producer, filmmaker and educator from the San Diego/Tijuana border region.
His past projects include "While We Wait," "Ruta 40" and "Cocineras." He partners with local creators on multimedia projects and serves as media director for Transfronterizo Futures, aiding transborder students. Passionate about all things Baja, Julio mentors Tijuana and South Bay San Diego youth.
MORE STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR
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Port of Entry sits down with KPBS border reporter Gustavo Solis and Al Otro Lado Director of Litigation Cassandra Lopez to discuss and reflect on the most significant changes in immigration policy and how they have impacted the border region. -
As Venezuela faces renewed political turmoil, one mother's experience sheds light on the conditions that drove her to leave. -
Stopping the flow of cross-border pollution can seem like a Sisyphean task. Luckily, there are four fronterizos who have stepped up to make a difference, filling in the void left by governments on both sides of the border. -
Itamar “Ita” Lilienthal is an emerging biodesigner and architect developing sustainable material alternatives — and he thinks he may have found something big. -
Natalie takes our friend and colleague, Leslie Gonzalez, on her first-ever trip to Tijuana to explore Mercado Hidalgo, celebrate Día de Muertos, and dive into the sights, smells, and flavors of this tradition. -
We conclude our time with Chama, a Venezuelan exile who made her way to the United States via Tijuana. She shares her Herculean effort to enter the U.S. legally and, despite all her efforts, how the system ultimately failed her.
MORE STORIES FEATURING WORK BY THIS AUTHOR
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In 2025, Port of Entry went beyond the mic. Here's how the team connected with listeners and creators across San Diego and Tijuana — and the community that makes these stories possible. -
Mikey Varas' San Diego squad became the second expansion team to advance to a conference final, joining the 1998 Chicago Fire.
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