Border Patrol State

 Reading Leslie Silko’s essay “Border Patrol State” certainly opened my eyes to the extreme measures that southern states, especially Arizona and Texas, are taking in order to protect the borders. I couldn’t say that I totally agree or disagree with her stance on immigration and border patrol, however. The first thing that I agree with is that border patrol agents may be getting a bit out of hand in their efforts to apprehend illegal immigrants. Yes, it is necessary to take precautions to check for correct citizenship near the border but I think the officers are getting carried away with their methods and are on somewhat of a power trip. Silko said “no person, no citizen, is free to travel without the scrutiny of the border patrol” and that “they are willing to detain anyone, for no apparent reason.” These are frightening realizations and it makes me curious why someone isn’t stepping in to resolve their behavior. Holding a gun to a man’s head or sending a drug dog on people just because they asked a question really doesn’t seem like ethical or safe behavior to me. While they are trying to keep our borders safe, they are really endangering more lives in the process. It makes you wonder, how far is too far? I really think that more people need to be made aware of what is really happening at the borders. The thing that bothered me about Silko’s essay was her relaxed stance on illegal immigrants and that it is okay for them to pass through our borders because they are destined to do so. She also doesn’t seem to think that the borders are even necessary. She says, “It is no use; borders haven't worked, and they won't work, not now, as the indigenous people of the Americas reassert their kinship and solidarity with one another.” Yes, it is true that many illegal aliens still slip through our borders everyday, so they don’t always work, but I don’t think it is right to say they are no use at all and never will be. More reforms just need to be made to improve the border patrol process, but it is definitely necessary. I welcome everyone to this country if they want to make a life here, but they need to do it legally. Our country has laws just like the rest of the world and we cant just look the other way when it comes to immigration just because certain groups feel they are fated to be here.