A Forbidden City
Imperial Beach is the name of the most southern beach in California, about three miles north of the border with Mexico. Approximately 40 miles into the ocean, on the north-west of Coronado islands, there is a small island of about 50 square miles, commonly referred to as “The Loony land”. Like most of the Pacific islands, it has tropical climate with unusual (as people in other islands would call it) vegetation. This island, once inhabited by natives (who totally vanished after an outbreak of an epidemic disease) belongs to the US government, and it is used to house certain deportees. Connection to this island is only by boat, and for those arriving here, it has so far been just a one-way route. Once a month, US Coastguard transports a fresh group of deportees to the island and returns with crews only, since no one can ever leave or escape from this island. Transportation of any kind, an automobile, a boat or an air transporter, is not available to inhabitants. The island has been growing in population in the past ten years and it is estimated to have reached a population of about 65,000 people, although no one knows the exact number. No census has ever been taken, nor is there any polling to gauge social and economic life of the people. There are roads and shops and factories and other buildings, but not any government establishment. In the absence of a local government, there is no need for administrative officials such as police force or tax collectors. Inhabitants of the island live in such a way that would not entice any outsider a desire to eye on their material possession, neither is any competition for wealth (or anything else for that matter) among the islanders. The island is encased with barbed-wires and surrounding water is patrolled by the US Coastguard 24/7.
