This episode is an analysis examining immigration policy debates in the U.S., with a focus on the dynamics along the Southern border. It traces the history of border control buildups since the 1990s and their consequences. The essay explores economic and security factors driving migration from Mexico and Central America, and delves into the roles Border Patrol and ICE play in implementing policies on the ground. Different perspectives on immigration reform are also assessed, considering consequences for border communities as well as national interests.

This episode explores the winding, complex history of the US-Mexico borderlands region over the centuries. From early Native tribes and Spanish conquistadors to the Mexican-American War, Prohibition, Bracero migrant workers, NAFTA trade, and today’s immigration debates, the cross-border area has continually shifted in response to economic, political and social forces. Tensions have flared through generations, leaving a complicated legacy. By taking the long view, the episode provides context on how we arrived at present-day border conflicts and the constant reinventing of America’s southern frontier.

This vivid audio essay explores how the diverse and extreme geography spanning nearly 2,000 miles along the southern border shapes the risks, cultures, security challenges and social ties joining communities across the US-Mexico divide. It highlights the natural barriers posed by deserts, mountains and fragile riparian ecosystems while examining the complex human dynamics of this rugged transboundary region.