Alone on the Devil's HighwayThe Devil's Highway is the name given to a long stretch of unforgiving desert located in southern Arizona. This section 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 attempting to enter the United States illegally. As they attempt to cross this strip of land, immigrants face the discomfort of the elements, as well as the fear of detection and arrest by border controls. Many immigrants will do anything to avoid detection by border controls. In their efforts to avoid arrest, immigrants may be fleeing not only from law enforcement, but also from those traveling with them, including those leading them through the unfamiliar wilderness. These immigrants find themselves alone and lost on the Devil's Highway. Without direction they are more susceptible to death. In his book The Devils Highway, Luis Alberto Urrea tells the story of twenty-six men from southern Mexico who attempted to enter the United States illegally through the Arizona desert. During their journey these men encountered border control and became separated. In the end only twelve men survived. This book offers a unique look at the harsh landscape of those crossing the border, the difficulties illegal immigrants have dealing with Coyotes (hired smugglers), the Border Patrol agents trying to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the United States and to the economic effects of having illegal immigrants die within the borders of the United States. America's land border with Mexico is 1,989 miles long (Lindi), and approximately 368 miles of that border is with the state of Arizona. A fence protects a portion of... half of paper... Research uses resources, takes time and requires labor that must also be paid. In other words, the United States must allocate money for the illegal trafficking of immigrants within its borders. Luis Alberto Urrea takes a rather clear left-wing political position on the issue of border control, essentially stating that the system is doomed to fail. He believes that the current system places unnecessary stress on all parties involved in border control. In a retelling of a true story, The Devil's Highway penetrates the lives and addresses issues involved in immigration debates, arousing empathy for those on both sides of the border. Works Cited: Lindi, John F. Powerpoints/ Classroom Lesson. Spring 2014. Electronic access via. Lavagna.Urrea, Luis Alberto. The Devil's Highway. New York. Hachette Book Group. Piccolo, Brown and company. 2005. Print.