14 Miles

Much like the eight separate border wall prototypes that were built (and promptly demolished), this book tells a lot of individual stories but doesn't quite fill in the contextual gaps between them. It's impossible not to be moved by its brief chapters that portray a variety of people caught up in the situation, like the volunteers who drop off water jugs in the desert for those who are trying to cross, or the young woman watching the wall prototypes go up from her shack just south of the border, knowing that she can't prove her U.S. citizenship because she can't obtain a valid birth certificate. And while Gibson doesn't try to hide his opinions about the immigration crisis, he portrays the individuals he interviews who are in favor of stronger border control with dignity and respect (other than the InfoWars reporter who tosses candy at children traveling with the infamous caravan and then declares they must not be hungry when they don't scramble to pick it up).

However, I wanted more historical and political background than Gibson provided, leaving me feeling like I had an incomplete picture - also kind of like the border wall. Each chapter felt like it could have been a New York Times Magazine article. Well-written and emotionally resonant, but if you're looking for a comprehensive look at the immigration issue, this isn't the book for you.