Summary

Written in 2014, the Afterward entitled “Ten Years On: A Reintroduction” explains that the book was written in order to “bear witness—we saw an exodus straight from the biblical template, and it felt like no one was paying attention” (221). He notes that the “triumvirate of Desolation—walkers, smugglers, and Migra—all were worthy of witness” (223). Urrea discusses what critics have called his fair treatment of the Border Patrol, and credits them with the moving details of a death by heat stroke, recorded in one of the earlier chapters.

He mentions the brutalizing effect of technology and social media, which make it easy to discuss “Mexicans” in general. Urrea notes that it is “so easy to talk about them. What does it mean when they are also us?” (225). He provides an updated account of how border security has been increased, causing the death toll to...