watch from afar, unable to walk beyond the barrier that has established a way of life in this community. five miles north of the border, at columbus, elementary, this principal says three quarters of his students live in mexico. >> we deal with things that are a bit different. >> reporter: for more than four decades, new mexico's state constitution has guaranteed u.s. citizens a free weather conditions no matter where they live. >> so half of you live here, half of you live on the other side of the border? >> yes. >> you must have the no excuses mentality. if you're going to be the leader of this school. kids come in with pretty extreme cases. >> our graduation is coming up and my dad isn't going to be able to go. >> reporter: her and her sister were both born in the u.s. their father, hayes, was deported after getting caught crossing the border illegally