Alone on Devil's Highway Devil's Highway is the name given to a long stretch of unforgiving desert located in southern Arizona. This part of the desert is unforgiving for many natural reasons, but the large number of deaths attributed to the desert are not entirely environmental. The highway is also a dangerous border crossing point for those trying to enter the United States illegally. When attempting to cross this strip of land, immigrants face the discomfort of the elements in addition to the fear of being detected and apprehended by border control. Many immigrants will do anything to avoid detection by border controls. In their efforts to avoid apprehension, immigrants may flee not only law enforcement, but also those who travel with them, including those who guide them through the unknown wilderness. These immigrants find themselves lost and alone on the Devil's Highway. Without direction, they are more likely to die. In his book The Devils Highway, Luis Alberto Urrea tells the story of twenty-six men from southern Mexico who attempted to illegally enter the United States through the Arizona desert. During their journey, these men encountered border control and were separated. In the end, only twelve men survived. This book takes a unique look at the hostile landscape of those crossing the border, the difficulties illegals face in dealing with Coyotes (hired human smugglers), the Border Patrol agents who attempt to prevent illegals from entering the United States and the economic effects. to see illegal immigrants die within the borders of the United States. The land border between America and Mexico is 1,989 miles long (Lindi), and approximately 368 miles of this border is with the state of Arizona. A fence protects part of ...... middle of paper ...... Research uses resources, takes time and requires labor which must also be paid. In other words, the United States must finance the illegal passage of immigrants across its borders. Luis Alberto Urrea takes a fairly clear left-wing political stance on the issue of border control, essentially saying that the system will fail. He believes that the current system puts unnecessary pressure on all parties involved in border control. In the retelling of a true story, The Devils Highway delves into life and addresses the issues involved in immigration debates, sparking empathy for those on both sides of the border. Works Cited: Lindi, John F. Powerpoints/Class Lecture. Spring 2014. Electronic access via. Blackboard.Urrea, Luis Alberto. The Devil's Highway. New York. Hachette Book Group. Little, Brown and company. 2005. Print.