The Devil’s Highway explores the ideas of borders and
boundaries through a very real and present issue. The issue of illegal immigration is one that
affects thousands of individuals in the United States. I believe it is fair to say that it is one of
the most prominent examples of modern human division in the United States
today. Most Americans obviously see it from
a very American standpoint, thinking of how it affects American citizens,
rather than seeing the causes of the issue, or the perspective of the immigrant. The Devil’s Highway does show the perspective
of the immigrant, in a very raw and revealing manner. In doing this, it helps to explore both sides
of this created border. This removes the
idea of “us” and “them” that is so prominent in this issue, by depicting
characters that have very real, human struggles that everyone, regardless of
race or nationality, can relate to.
Every father can relate to a man trying to support his family. Every husband can see a bit of himself in a
man trying to build a home for his wife.
These are the characters depicted in The Devils Highway. They are men simply trying to do what is best
for those that they love. So where does
the issue lie? Are these not all individuals of the same species trying to
accomplish the same things?
The problem
emerges with the creation of borders, which divide people to see differences in
one another. There is the border of
race, between white Americans and Latino immigrants. The simple characteristic of skin tone leads
to a slew of racial separations. It is
the difference between whether or not you get your passport checked near the
border. This leads to issues of
nationality and citizenship. These are
some of the most prominent of issues in The Devils Highway. The book would be non-existent without these
borders. Because we created these ideas,
we created the separation of “us” and “them”.
We separate people by where they were born and decide that this makes
them fundamentally different than us, makes them unworthy of being where we
are. It causes the struggles of border
crossers, as they cannot simply enter America in hopes of a better life.
Obviously, there will be cultural differences
between countries. These are in part
shaped by class differences. Those of a
less economically stable country will live more modest lifestyles. They will perhaps live in more closely knit
family structures. They will be more
likely to do work that those of a more economically stable will not. These simple differences in lifestyle create
cultural differences which instill borders between people. Those from one side of a national border
believe those on the other side are different.
Humans find differences between individuals that are really quite
similar and use them to justify unfair treatment of these “different”
people. The Devils Highway reminds us
that though somebody may be different, may be separated by a border of race,
nationality, or citizenship, they are still human. They still desire to support their
family. They still hope for a better
life. They may have come from a
different place, but they are built of the same human characteristics,
instincts, and desires.
