In 'The Line Becomes a River,' former Border Patrol agent Francisco Cantú provides a haunting exploration of the human and moral complexities at the U.S.-Mexico border. As he navigates the harsh realities of immigration enforcement, Cantú reveals the deeply personal stories of those he encounters, challenging the reader's perceptions of justice and humanity. His poetic prose paints a vivid picture of the landscapes and lives intertwined with the border. What begins as a career steeped in duty transforms into a profound crisis of conscience. This powerful memoir leaves readers questioning the true cost of borders, both physical and emotional.
By Francisco Cantú
Published: 2018
""In the end, the line between two worlds is just a scar, and the human heart bleeds into both.""
NAMED A TOP 10 BOOK OF 2018 BY NPR and THE WASHINGTON POST WINNER OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE IN CURRENT INTEREST FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE NONFICTION AWARD The instant New York Times bestseller, "A must-read for anyone who thinks 'build a wall' is the answer to anything." --Esquire For Francisco Cantú, the border is in the blood: his mother, a park ranger and daughter of a Mexican immigrant, raised him in the scrublands of the Southwest. Driven to understand the hard realities of the landscape he loves, Cantú joins the Border Patrol. He and his partners learn to track other humans under blistering sun and through frigid nights. They haul in the dead and deliver to detention those they find alive. Plagued by a growing awareness of his complicity in a dehumanizing enterprise, he abandons the Patrol for civilian life. But when an immigrant friend travels to Mexico to visit his dying mother and does not return, Cantú discovers that the border has migrated with him, and now he must know the full extent of the violence it wreaks, on both sides of the line.
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“"In the end, the line between two worlds is just a scar, and the human heart bleeds into both."”
The Line Becomes a River
By Francisco Cantú
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Francisco Cantú is an acclaimed author and former U.S. Border Patrol agent, known for his profound exploration of the complexities surrounding the U.S.-Mexico border. His notable works include 'The Line Becomes a River,' a memoir that reflects on his experiences in law enforcement and the human stories behind immigration. Cantú's writing is characterized by its lyrical prose and deep empathy, offering readers a nuanced understanding of border politics and the lives affected by it.
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