Who is benefitting?

This book manages to be scary, depressing and heartbreaking all at the same time.  Ankarlo visited the US-Mexico border area to get a clearer impression of the people who are involved in all illegal immigration: migrants, coyotes who traffic them, border enforcement agents, residents, and “volunteer” border guards.  He notes that the majority of people who enter the US illegally come here for a better life, but most of them end up in poverty.  The journey itself to get into the country is fraught with horrors.  Not only must migrants pay (generally multiple people) to “help” transport them, they also risk kidnapping by armed extortion gangs (aided by corrupt Mexican police).  Female immigrants are nearly always raped on the journey, and this is a known and accepted part of the price that is paid.  Ankarlo also discovers a growing movement in the Latino community to take back the American southwest states, which were “illegally” taken from Mexico.  He also looks at who is benefitting from this situation.  He fears a growing tide of division in the U.S. if the situation isn’t addressed.  At the end of the book, he offers over 30 possible solutions to this difficult and divisive issue.

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