The border between the United States and Mexico is a point of contention across media outlets, politicians, and American citizens. In general, border issues are spoken of as being black and white. From this perspective, there is only right and wrong no matter the circumstances and no one should cross the border into the U.S. for any reason whatsoever. Of course, for many, these issues are being discussed without any serious consideration of the individual humans involved or the various catalysts that drove them to risk the dangerous trek across the border. The media uses fear to drive ratings and politicians depict migrants in the most frightening way possible in order to sway votes their way. The media often leaves out the stories of these individuals, many of whom are escaping horrible violence. Men, women, and children alike make an ill-fated and unprepared trip into the desert to cross into the United States. The desert is an unforgiving environment—the land itself is very difficult to maneuver with dangerous climbs through canyons laced with painful cactus and venomous rattlesnakes. Temperatures can exceed 120 degrees fahrenheit in the summer and drop below freezing in the winter. Chances of finding water are few and far between. Many people who plan to cross the border hire guides or “coyotes” that are supposed to safely usher them into the US. However, every year many people get separated from their guide. Once separated it is extremely difficult for a person who is not familiar with the terrain and trails to find their way to water let alone to their original destination. As a result these people ultimately succumb to the unforgiving environment. Since 1999 over 2,500 people have died while crossing the border into the United States. Humanitarian aid groups have tried to ameliorate these deaths by hiking into this harsh terrain and dropping off innumerable jugs of water to attempt to save lives. It; however, is never enough, people continue to die, and with new deaths being reported every month, there is little chance of this problem going away any time soon.

Taylor James

About Taylor James

Taylor James has spent time living in the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast and now the Southwest. Much of his work deals with humans and their interactions with the environment. He graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Photography and is currently pursuing an MFA in Photography at Arizona State University. Traveling north on Route 87, the views of Tonto National Forest appear pristine and beautiful. Towering saguaros pepper a land that seems to go on endlessly. It wasn’t until I ventured off of the highway onto one of the many dirt roads intersecting Tonto that the pristine landscape revealed a different truth. Gunshots can be heard coming from all directions and bullet holes can be found piercing many of the saguaros. This part of the desert is frequented by car after car full of people from across the valley who participate in recreational target shooting. As a result the land is now littered by bullet casings, shotgun shells, broken glass, beer cans, busted vacuums, used propane tanks and just about anything you can imagine. Plinking is the act of shooting an object not originally intended as a target.