Source: Luis Alberto Urrea, The Devil's Highway, 54

Quote: "There are things, unlikely as it seems, that unite the Mexican consular corps and the Border Patrol. In consulates, names of certain Border Patrol officers are spoken with respect, even affection..."

Reflections: The words 'Border Patrol' have a positive connontation in this quote. The reader gets a sense that the Border Patrol is not horrible like some people think them to be. These two sentences allow one to see the more humanistic side to the Border Patrol; if "Mexican consular corps" can hold the Border Patrol with affection, then it seems as if everyone else should.

Source:Urrea, Luis A. The Devil's Highway.16

Quote: "Arrests of illegals are often slightly wry, vaguely embarrassing events, the relentless border is often seen as a highly competitive game that can even be friendly when it's not frightening and deadly"

Reflections: When I was watching the news one time I saw a video clip of how some BORDER PATROL officer was treating this illegal immigrant and it was so horrible that I could not watch it any more… So when I read this sentence I had a flash back to that video and I hope that nothing happens to who ever hunts them (“competitive game”) don’t ever need help of an illegal immigrant because that day he is going to have a FLASH back of all of those people that he miss treated just because all they want was nothing to worry about!!

Source:Mary Jo McConahay. The Texas Observer

Quote:"Recently he’s started working with a more serious, deliberate coyote, now running him down to Mission twice a week for $700 each time – again no risk, since Border Patrol isn’t likely to stop a car traveling south."

Reflections: I think it strange how the Border Patrol doesn't stop anyone going South-because we all think "why would an illegal go towards Mexico.". Maybe if they checked some of the cars going south, coyotes or other types of "illegal transporters" would and could be stopped...but maybe not. it's hard enough to catch them going north. What would checking southern bound cars change?

Source: Luis Alberto Urrea. The Devils Highway. Page 14

Quote: "The Border Patrol! Their nemesis. They'd walked into hell trying to escape the Border Patrol, and now they were praying to get caught."

Reflections: This quote implies that the immigrants should stay away from the Border Patrol, but ironically they want the Border Patrol to find them. The quote gives them a negative connotation by referring to them as their nemesis. It also shows how desperate the immigrants are for help by hoping the Border Patrol will find them.

Source: Stricter Immigration Policy Is Essential to the War on Terror.

Quote: " The current immigration and entrance systems are in shambles, partly by neglect, partly by design."

Reflections: Although this quote does not include the term border patrol, in some sense the author is relating it to it. A few sentences later the author uses the word border patrol and says that they have ineffective detention and deporting policies.

Source: Urrea, Luis Alberto. "The Devil's Highway" 109

Quote: "Mendez later claimed that the Border Patrol was lurking in the hills, waiting for them to come up to Bluebird Pass. It was an ambush..."

Reflections: In this quote the word Border Patrol is portrayed as a secretive, hunter figure through words such as "lurking", "waiting", and "ambush". This quote implies that the Border Patrol always seem to be on the lookout for illegal immigrants, even if it means camping out to catch them. This quote also gives us the impression that the Border Patrol is dedicated to what they do in their field of work.

Source: Urrea, Luis Alberto. "The Devil's Highway" 90

Quote: One of the Border Patrol guys saw that Mendez had a rabbit tattoo on his arm.

"What's that suppose to mean?" he asked.

"What?"

"The rabbit."

"The tattoo?"

"Yes, the tattoo. What does the rabbit tattoo signify?"

"Nothing."

"Gang sign?"

"No."

"Is it some kind of Coyote code?"

"It's a rabbit. I like rabbits."

Reflections: Ok, I've heard of "guilty by association," but if a guy wants to have a rabbit tattoo on his arm, then he should be able to without being accused of being a coyote. Too bad he really is a coyote. I wonder if the tattoo is some type of coyote code? I don't think it is.

Source:Urrea. Luis Alberto. "The Devil's Highway" 171

Quote:"My brother was talking about water, water," Mario says. "The five of us said we were going to make it. We were hoping the Border Patrol would see us."

Reflections:In desperate situations like the walkers faced, they could not help but wish to see border patol. Border patrol for walkers was something very bad as "Devil's Highway" mentioned in the beginning, someone ruthless and violent. However, the will to live for the walkers made them wish to be found by border patrol because they knew that that was probably the only way to survive in that desert.

Source: Urrea, Luis Alberto. "The Devil's Highway" 17.

Quote: "The Border Patrol is understandably touchy about tbis reputation. They think the Jack Nicholson film The Border, where all agents and officers are corrupt, is funny as hell. They recommend a good Charles Bronson film about the Border Patrol if you want to know what its really like. Something a little more straight up, more cowboy - cowboy in a good way, in the traditional way."

Reflections: This quote suggests that the Border Patrol aren't as horrible as most think they are. It creates and understanding about their want to keep a good reputation that is more heroic and "cowboy" than "corrupt." They compare their jobs to a Charles Broson film to gain that image of a traditional rugged cowboy that is part of nature and good at heart. This contrasts with the image that "la migra" gives off which is one that all of the illegal immigrants are afraid of and hate.

Source: Urrea, Luis aAlberto. "The Devil's Highway" 18.

Quote:"If it was the border patrol's job to apprehend lawbreakers, it was equally their duty to save the lost and dying."

Reflections: This quote shows the reader the responsibility the Border Patrol is weighted down with; their job could be the difference between a dead illegal immigrant, or a live one. They also are responsible for lawbreakers, criminals, and anyone else who is brave enough to walk the desert. People will debate for their stance on the immigration issue, either side though should respect the Border Patrol for their public duties.

Entry 11:  Steven Truong

Source: Urrea, Lusi Alberto. "The Devil's Highway" 17.

Quote: "The Boarder Patrol is understandably touchy about this reputation."

Reflections: This quote, and the paragraph above it, shows the sensetivity of the boarder patrol of not being portrayed as sensetive. They must be more feared than the gringos, yet also angels when the walkers are dying. It is a very thin line and they must tread it carefully or their reputation and job is in unsuccessful. 

Entry 12 : Yongkeun Choi

Source: Tony Allen "Migrants die in desert of dreams"

Quote: "the Mexican so-called 'coyote' guides who smuggle immigrants across the border have merely put their prices up. To avoid detection by border patrol, the immigrants must walk ever deeper into an unforgiving wilderness."

Reflections: In this quote, immigrants are being described as victims between coytes in Mexico and border patrols in the U.S. Coyotes and border patrols are both the oppressors in both countries, while poor immigrants are the oppressees. I think the author may have not intended what I said but it seems that immigrants are becoming the material for fight.