The Daily Chela

The Daily Chela

When “Pancho Villa” Attacked Columbus

Francisco "Pancho Villa" may have had other intentions than just burglarizing a quiet town

Gustavo Vazquez-Lozano's avatar
Gustavo Vazquez-Lozano
Sep 03, 2025
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Last January 2020, a border point of entry in Columbus, New Mexico, won national and state awards for its architecture, safety and “welcoming feel.” Every morning, crowds of merry kids cross the border to attend school, and modern facilities with well-mannered police officers handle hundreds of visitors each day.

But it wasn’t always like that. The town …

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Gustavo Vazquez-Lozano's avatar
A guest post by
Gustavo Vazquez-Lozano
Contributor at Daily Chela. Author of "Sixty Years of Solitude: The Life of Empress Charlotte of Mexico." Escribo en Spanish y en inglés too.
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