Border Crosser Like Me: A Gringo’s Experience

Last year when I volunteered once a week for a nonprofit agency that helps out Hispanic immigrants, I never gave much thought about how they made it to the Washington, D.C. area. The whole point was to help them build a life now that they were in the U.S.

After they showed me some form of identification–a passport or driver’s license from their country of origin, I would help them fill out a form so the agency could issue them an I.D. card.

Oftentimes, it was the first form of identification they had acquired since moving to the U.S. They could use it to enroll their kids in school or give it to an administrator if they needed to visit a hospital.

While I could speak enough Spanish to help someone fill out a form asking about the basic details of their life, I wasn’t able to talk to them about how they made it from El Salvador, Guatemala, or Mexico.

If dare-devil author Johnny Rico’s book Border Crosser is any guide, the journey must have been a harrowing experience.

Both Sides of the Border. Fresh from a tour in Afghanistan as a stop-loss soldier, Rico places himself in the middle of the immigration controversy by spending time on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Before he works up the courage to make his illicit passage from Mexico to the U.S., Rico studies potential adversaries, such as vigilantes and the border patrol. He’s a good story teller who has funny exchanges with people working for pro-immigrant groups as well as aging vigilantes who spout conspiracy theories about how Mexico is slowly invading the U.S.

What he finds is that both of these deterrents are relatively harmless. Border vigilante groups such as the Minutemen have no authority to detain illegal immigrants. The most they can do is call the border patrol, which seldom do more than detain an immigrant for a few hours before releasing them back in Mexico.

Suspicious Activities. But that doesn’t mean crossing the border from Mexico into the U.S. is easy. As he searches for the perfect spot to cross the border into Mexico–and then back into the U.S.–Rico is continually harassed by local police and border patrolmen who are suspicious of his activities.

Even scarier than the law enforcement around the border are the cartel-funded coyotes who Rico suspects are likely to frown on someone making their own way to the U.S.

According to Rico, border crossers have two basic options. Either making a short run for it to California, or taking a long trek in the Arizona desert. Both options have their drawbacks. While the border near California is close to the highway, it’s closely monitored by the border patrol.

The so-called Amnesty Trail leading into Arizona is relatively desolate, but it entails hiking about 60 miles under the scorching sun or dark, snake infested night. This journey makes a mockery of running a marathon–the most physically challenging thing I’ve done. Unlike the 26.2 mile races I’ve run, there’s no Gatorade stops on the Amnesty Trail.

In the end, Rico figures out how to cross the border. But not without taking some serious risks that almost get him kidnapped or killed–just like the thousands of others who’ve done it.

Disclosure: Travelojos received a free review copy of this book.