Robert Lee Maril
Patrolling Chaos: The U.S. Border Patrol in Deep South Texas (2004)
Author: Robert Lee Maril
Genre: Nonfiction (Law Enforcement)
Book Summary:
Robert Lee Maril a professor from Texas Tech University spends and documents two years worth of ride alongs and observations of agents of the U.S. Border Patrol along the Rio Grande in deep south Texas. His purpose is not to document the lives and perils of the illegal immigrants who flood into the U.S., this has already been well documented, but instead on what agents do. Through professor Maril’s ride alongs and the stories he collects from the agents themselves along with what he observes himself, he paints a realistic picture of the lives of the men and women of the Border Patrol, the problems they face within the agency itself and the negative stereotypes that exists outside in the communities and even the whole world.
Geographical Setting: Deep south Texas around the city of McAllen
Time Period: Present (21st Century)
Appeal Characteristics:
I think the fact that it is real and what is described in the book actually happened and is continuing to happen is a great appeal characteristic. The book is also great for those interested in specifically the Border Patrol, immigration problems, Government work, and finally Law Enforcement. Also includes cultural aspects, Racism among the Anglos, Mexican Americans, and Mexican Nationals.
Read-alikes: For those interested in the Border and immigration aspect I chose a few titles involving this aspect. On the Line: Inside the U.S. Border Patrol by Eric Krauss, Hard Line : Life and Death on the U.S.-Mexico Border by Ken Ellingwood, Border Games: Policing the U.S.-Mexico Divide (Cornell Studies in Political Economy) by Peter Andreas, Dead in Their Tracks: Crossing America's Desert Borderlands by John Annerino, and Coyotes: A Journey Through the Secret World of America's Illegal Aliens by Ted Conover. I also thought that another interesting point to this book that might interest readers is the immigration laws themselves. The titles I chose include, Immigration and Nationality Laws of the United States: Selected Statutes, Regulations and Forms as Amended to May 16, 2005 (American Casebook Series) by Thomas Alexander Aleinikoff, and Immigration Law and Procedure in a Nutshell (Nutshell Series) by David S. Weissbrodt. I picked only a few titles among hundreds having to do with law enforcement. First was entitled, Interviewing and Interrogation for Law Enforcement by John E Hess., and second, PDR Guide to Terrorism Response: A Resouce for Physicians, Emergency Services and Law Enforcement by john G. Bartlett. Last of all I thought that another important appeal characteristic individuals might be interested in was other international borders. For this I went to many different sources but the topic was hard to find finally I chose the title, International Law and Conflicts: Resolving Border and Sovereignty Disputes in Africa by Justice M. Mbuh.
Red Flags: Racism, Hate, Death, and a Smuggler who works in the nude, and several instances of harsh language.
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