Book Review: "The Line Becomes A River" By Francisco Cantu

This is a bit unusual as it's not my normal read with nonfiction but it captured the fear, terror, and desperation of immigrants in a way I'll never forget!

This reminds me of cops and robbers as a kid. 

In a way it's the good guys v the bad guys in trying to protect the border against those who wish to cross illegally but what if those crossing had good reason too?

Perhaps there's no room for empathy, compassion, love when the law is the law and I agree to a point but many are fleeing horrifying conditions and leaving behind desperation for the hope of a new life.

Drugs are often front and center in this equation as anyone young or old is used to smuggle drugs in while crossing over.

They risk life and limb to find freedom from harm but often pay the ultimate price.
Francisco grew up with a family deeply rooted in the deep south western rules of law. His mother was a park ranger and daughter of a Mexican immigrant family. You could say it's in his genes to become a Border Patrol Agent.

However, no amount of training can heal the wounds these men and women experience on the front line daily.

They track 24-7 humans in the worst conditions imaginable and bring in those caught alive.
Rarely do they follow the cases from that point but in this case Cantu's close friend and immigrant traveled to Mexico to see his dying mother never to return.
Curiosity is something he simply can't ignore and the novel becomes a heartbreaking story of his best friends travels across the border.

This is an eye opener for those pushing their own political agendas and a must read for today's heated debates on immigration and naturalization.

I'm honored to have read this and hope others have the chance to experience a day in the life of a Border Patrol agent.