Border and Immigration Control

Children's Literature

America is truly a nation of immigrants. Over the decades, millions of people have legally come to the United States in pursuit of a better life. However, many immigrants choose or are forced to venture forth to America without following the legal mandates established by the federal government. In order to address the issues related to immigration, the federal government operates the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). INS is the subject of Michael Kerrigan's illustrated volume in the "Rescue and Prevention: Defending Our Nation" series. As is the case with other books in this series, the primary focus of the book is on the relationship between the primary agency, INS, and potential terrorism. Kerrigan outlines this premise by describing the way in which INS operatives patrol America's borders and investigate illegal immigration claims. Interspersed throughout the text are human interest inserts that deal with individual immigrant stories and which may be the best feature of this book. Unfortunately, although Kerrigan may be well intended in his approach, some sweeping generalizations exist in this book. For example, the author notes that "Today's Americans are tolerant" and that the United States is the "unrivaled world superpower," which might more "accurately be called the United Races of America." While America is a powerful nation built upon multi-faceted ethnic histories it is somewhat addlebrained to overlook the past and present issues of racism in this country. This type of politicizing makes this an informational but flawed work. 2003, Mason Crest Publishers, Ages 12 up.
— Greg M. Romaneck

School Library Journal

Gr 5-7-The tone of this title is set by a photograph of President "George W. Bush, Jr." in the midst of a throng of newly naturalized U.S. citizens with the Statue of Liberty in the background. Kerrigan makes a point of frequently praising the enterprising spirit and valuable skills of new immigrants and makes reference to the country's tarnished past regarding quotas, racism, and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The Border Patrol is depicted as protecting not only the nation's safety, but also the personal safety of illegal aliens. Grim accounts of Mexicans left to die in the desert by human "coyotes" and Chinese refugees suffocating to death in trucks while trying to cross borders are included. Dramatic photographs of arrests, the infamous raid on the Florida refuge of El'an Gonzalez, and construction of a huge fence along the U.S.-Mexico border intensify the text's emotional appeal. A simple glossary, a chronology of some significant events in INS history, and the agency's Web-site address are useful supplements. Despite the sometimes flowery language, enough substance is supplied to give a clear understanding of the purposes and activities of this agency.-Ann G. Brouse, Steele Memorial Library, Elmira, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.