The Hidden Challenges of the U.S.-Mexico Border
In The Hidden Challenges of the U.S.-Mexico Border, host Simon Reeve explores the U.S.-Mexico border, specifically the Rio Grande region. With over 2,000 miles separating the two countries, Simon meets a Border Patrol agent managing the area. While some parts of the border are fenced, many areas have no barrier at all. Simon also learns how dangerous the Rio Grande is, with migrants risking their lives crossing it, despite its powerful current. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Americas With Simon Reeve, in which Simon Reeve explores the landscapes, cultures, and wildlife of North and South America.
Lesson Express
Q: How does the current situation at the Rio Grande illustrate the human cost of migration, and what can be done to reduce the dangers faced by migrants crossing the border?
A: The situation at the Rio Grande highlights the dangerous conditions migrants endure, from strong river currents to extreme physical exhaustion. The risk of death or injury while attempting to cross the border is a significant human cost. To reduce these dangers, there could be more resources for safer legal migration pathways, better humanitarian aid at the border, and a focus on addressing the root causes of migration, such as poverty and violence in the migrants' home countries.
Q: In what ways do the conditions of the border (including the fenced and unfenced areas) reflect the larger issue of immigration policy in the U.S.?
A: The mix of fenced and unfenced areas reflects the tension between efforts to control illegal immigration and the recognition of the complexity of the issue. The open areas suggest a lack of comprehensive planning and enforcement, which mirrors the ongoing debates in U.S. immigration policy about how to balance security with the humane treatment of migrants seeking asylum or a better life.
Q: How does the role of a Border Patrol officer, like Herman Rivera, become more complicated due to the geographical features of the Rio Grande region?
A: The geography of the Rio Grande region, with its strong currents and vast open areas, makes it difficult for Border Patrol officers to monitor and control the entire border effectively. Officers like Herman Rivera must constantly adapt to unpredictable situations, including the dangers posed by the river and the lack of infrastructure, making their job both physically demanding and emotionally taxing.
More Like This
In The Zimmerman Telegram and America’s Entry into WWI, host Andrew Marr takes us back to when the Great War was raging but the Americans hadn’t yet entered the fighting. The Germans attempted to keep America out of the war by getting Mexico to reclaim the territory it lost to the U.S., but this backfired when their telegram was intercepted by the British, ultimately pulling the Americans into the First World War. This video is excerpted from BBC’s A History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Follow the Water Wars in Chiapas, host Simon Reeve journeys to Chiapas, Mexico, where he uncovers the harsh reality of life in one of the country’s poorest regions. In San Cristóbal, many families struggle with extreme water shortages. A local shopkeeper reveals how deep wells dug by large corporations, including a massive soda plant, have drained the region’s water supply while receiving preferential treatment. This highlights the stark imbalance between corporate greed and basic survival. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Americas With Simon Reeve, in which Simon Reeve explores the landscapes, cultures, and wildlife of North and South America.
In The Faces and Stories Behind the Texas-Mexico Border Crossing, host Simon Reeve takes a look at immigration at the Texas-Mexico border, revealing challenges faced by both migrants and Border Patrol agents. He sees peoples from Honduras and Guatemala being stopped and beginning the asylum process, a shift from the past when most migrants were from Mexico. Simon also uncovers how the surge forces Border Patrol to focus on paperwork instead of drug/human trafficking, leaving critical issues unaddressed. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Americas With Simon Reeve, in which Simon Reeve explores the landscapes, cultures, and wildlife of North and South America.
In Secrets of the Mayan Jungle, host Simon Reeve explores the ancient city of Yaxchilan in Mexico. Led by a guide from the Lacandon people — Mayan descendants — he learns how the jungle serves as both a food source and a pharmacy. Simon also uncovers how the arrival of Europeans changed life forever for Indigenous people, bringing devastating diseases that had a lasting impact. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Americas With Simon Reeve, in which Simon Reeve explores the landscapes, cultures, and wildlife of North and South America.
In The Zimmerman Telegram and America’s Entry into WWI, host Andrew Marr takes us back to when the Great War was raging but the Americans hadn’t yet entered the fighting. The Germans attempted to keep America out of the war by getting Mexico to reclaim the territory it lost to the U.S., but this backfired when their telegram was intercepted by the British, ultimately pulling the Americans into the First World War. This video is excerpted from BBC’s A History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Follow the Water Wars in Chiapas, host Simon Reeve journeys to Chiapas, Mexico, where he uncovers the harsh reality of life in one of the country’s poorest regions. In San Cristóbal, many families struggle with extreme water shortages. A local shopkeeper reveals how deep wells dug by large corporations, including a massive soda plant, have drained the region’s water supply while receiving preferential treatment. This highlights the stark imbalance between corporate greed and basic survival. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Americas With Simon Reeve, in which Simon Reeve explores the landscapes, cultures, and wildlife of North and South America.
In The Faces and Stories Behind the Texas-Mexico Border Crossing, host Simon Reeve takes a look at immigration at the Texas-Mexico border, revealing challenges faced by both migrants and Border Patrol agents. He sees peoples from Honduras and Guatemala being stopped and beginning the asylum process, a shift from the past when most migrants were from Mexico. Simon also uncovers how the surge forces Border Patrol to focus on paperwork instead of drug/human trafficking, leaving critical issues unaddressed. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Americas With Simon Reeve, in which Simon Reeve explores the landscapes, cultures, and wildlife of North and South America.
In Secrets of the Mayan Jungle, host Simon Reeve explores the ancient city of Yaxchilan in Mexico. Led by a guide from the Lacandon people — Mayan descendants — he learns how the jungle serves as both a food source and a pharmacy. Simon also uncovers how the arrival of Europeans changed life forever for Indigenous people, bringing devastating diseases that had a lasting impact. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Americas With Simon Reeve, in which Simon Reeve explores the landscapes, cultures, and wildlife of North and South America.