Includes bibliographical references (p. 247-254) and index.

Journalist and researcher Laufer helps to understand the background to the current state of Mexican immigration: the story of how the border has become a fraud, resulting in nothing more than the criminalization of Mexican and other migrants, the bloating of the mismanaged Immigration and Naturalization Service, the deterioration of living standards along the frontier, and the enrichment of American employers. Laufer argues for free movement across the border, ending a deadly charade that taunts and abuses workers the U.S. economy deperately needs, and making it easier for the U.S. to enforce restrictions against those people to whom it wants to deny entry.--From publisher description.

Preface: Bienvenidos, amigos -- Illegal alien or clever new American? -- Still life on the border -- On guard -- Death along for the ride -- A legal view -- What is a border? -- Failed barriers -- Annexing half of Mexico, temporarily ... -- Early control of the border -- Before the border control got tough -- An unwelcoming proposition -- Among the vigilantes -- Two-way traffic -- The porous, shifting border -- Crossing the border through the ether -- The driver's license debate -- Illegal Americans -- On the Kentucky border -- Deportation made easier -- One farmer working by the rules -- Who wants the border closed? -- Burden or benefit? -- The road from Chiapas and Chihuahua -- Best friends -- Epilogue: a practical blueprint for normalizing the border.