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Dead in Their Tracks: Crossing America's Desert Borderlands
On assignment for Newsweek, noted photojournalist John Annerino journeyed deep into one of the least hospitable spots on the planet — the scorched 4,100-square-mile "empty quarter" that straddles Mexico and Arizona. There he met four Mexican nationals determined to cross a 130-mile trail illegally to find work to feed their families. Dead in Their Tracks is the record of their experience. Annerino’s unflinching camera and sensitive text capture the lives of these men, along with the ranchers, Border Patrol trackers, and drug runners whose livelihoods also depend on this grim realm. Dead in Their Tracks’ unforgettable images of anonymous travelers who may survive, and the bleached bones of those who did not, show the ultimate price sometimes exacted by an unforgiving nature — and by those who make policy in this area. 70 photographs and maps are featured in this harrowing chronicle of the dangers and struggles fought for a better way of life.
- GenresNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 1999
115 people want to read
About the author
John Annerino
37 books22 followersAuthor and photographer John Annerino has been working in the American West and the frontier of Old México for 20 years, documenting its natural beauty, indigenous people, and political upheaval. A veteran contract photographer for the Liaison International and TimePix photo agencies in New York and Paris, and Marka Graphic Photo in Milano, John's photography is archived in the Time-Life Picture Collection and has appeared in scores of prestigious publications worldwide, including Time, LIFE, People, Newsweek, Scientific American, Travel & Leisure, The New York Times, and National Geographic Adventure. His acclaimed collection of distinguished books feature diverse interests, geographies, and cultures, and range from his most cherished photographic essay, Indian Country: Sacred Ground, Native People, to his most heart wrenching book, Dead in Their Tracks. His celebrated single-artist calendars include Desert Light, Inspiration, La Virgen de Guadalupe, and Mayan Long Count Calendar. John's lifetime commitment to publishing illuminates his "passion to document endangered places, peoples, cultures, and traditions."
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 23, 2019
Historical/rare book that I had been reading at the library. (Wasn’t allowed to check it out, and had to read there). Found a copy online and had to buy it. Remarkable writing and photos to match. Countless tales of horror in Southwestern Arizona. 🌵
January 28, 2023
The author is to be commended for his passion for understanding the migrant experience and having the courage to make the dangerous trek into the borderlands himself. There are sobering stories and photographs of his journeys, as well as a painstaking amount of research. While the narrative meanders and is often hard to follow, much of the writing is powerful. For example, “I have trained for such long-distance travel, running by the heat of day seventy miles a week, week in and week out, and still the distances seem impossible to me: forty, sixty, a hundred miles or more they must trek across the deadliest desert in America. And still they come. Walking into the vast emptiness. Dreaming the golden dream. And still they disappear.”
As a member of a humanitarian group, I respectfully take issue with the author’s assertions about water stations in the desert. Those that we service are regularly maintained and tested (we also drink from the tanks to ensure palatability.) I also question his theory that providing water may encourage unfit migrants to make the journey. What is certain: whatever the obstacles, migrants are desperate and will continue to come….and still they disappear.
As a member of a humanitarian group, I respectfully take issue with the author’s assertions about water stations in the desert. Those that we service are regularly maintained and tested (we also drink from the tanks to ensure palatability.) I also question his theory that providing water may encourage unfit migrants to make the journey. What is certain: whatever the obstacles, migrants are desperate and will continue to come….and still they disappear.
January 17, 2016
Since 1540 attempting to traverse El Camino del Diablo, crossing the 4,100 square mile no-man's land, the borderlands in the Southwest corner of Arizona, stretching from Gila bend to Yuma has proved to be a daunting task. This trail has proved to be one of the deadliest for illegal immigrants crossing over from Mexico to the 'promised land'.
So why then do these fearless young Mexican's take on the heat of Arizona's summers, attempting to cross the numerous desert basins and rugged mountain ranges, often without sufficient supplies of food or water? Annerino has been drawn to the outback of Arizona since a young man and joined up with a group of four migrants to document their trip as they saunter out in the rippling desert's mirages in an effort to find jobs in America in order to provide a better life for the young families they leave behind. They come in search of the jobs that most American's abhor - picking lettuce or watermelon in fields, working twelve-hour days to earn a few dollars.
Traveling with these migrant workers, sharing their journey, water and food Annerino writes a fascinating tale of their failed attempt, and documenting the shared journey that is tracked by La Migra, the maligned border patrol who often find themselves in the role of the rescuer, putting their lives at risk to help dying illegals, or picking up the remains of those whose dreams fell fatally short.
Annerino ends the book with a list 'in memorium' of all documented deaths of immigrants, refugees, border agents, and humanitarian who has died in Arizona's desolate desert. The tome as written, and including his own photographs, is one that will touch you no matter where you stand in the battle waged against illegal immigration.
So why then do these fearless young Mexican's take on the heat of Arizona's summers, attempting to cross the numerous desert basins and rugged mountain ranges, often without sufficient supplies of food or water? Annerino has been drawn to the outback of Arizona since a young man and joined up with a group of four migrants to document their trip as they saunter out in the rippling desert's mirages in an effort to find jobs in America in order to provide a better life for the young families they leave behind. They come in search of the jobs that most American's abhor - picking lettuce or watermelon in fields, working twelve-hour days to earn a few dollars.
Traveling with these migrant workers, sharing their journey, water and food Annerino writes a fascinating tale of their failed attempt, and documenting the shared journey that is tracked by La Migra, the maligned border patrol who often find themselves in the role of the rescuer, putting their lives at risk to help dying illegals, or picking up the remains of those whose dreams fell fatally short.
Annerino ends the book with a list 'in memorium' of all documented deaths of immigrants, refugees, border agents, and humanitarian who has died in Arizona's desolate desert. The tome as written, and including his own photographs, is one that will touch you no matter where you stand in the battle waged against illegal immigration.
March 3, 2022
A well-documented and fascinating, though sad tale of the thousands of lives lost on El Camino del Diablo (The Devil's Highway) in southwestern Arizona. The photo-journalist author, John Annerino, risked his own life to carefully document the treacherous route by many people merely seeking to make things better for their own families back in Mexico and Central America.
May 17, 2018
It really, really takes you along on the terrible desert treks that incoming migrants use to reach the US. As part of my current fascination with everything having to do with our southern border, this is definitely something that everyone should read.
March 25, 2008
DRAFT
Man, if there was ever a worthy and under-reported issue tragically massacred by the hubris and self-involvement of its author, this is it.
I'm especially struck by the hovering presence of the narrator on the heels of reading Enrique's journey. Where Sonia Nazario's basic stance is "yes, as a journalist I engage in some of these risky activities, it is far worse for the kids who do this without the luxury of a motel or the protection of my government." She minimalizes her own presence in the book by telling most of the story through Enrique's eyes, adding her own experiences only to clarify, or amplify Enrique's story. For Annerino much of the text is his own first-hand account of his experiences of marching through the desert with his friends and colleagues, with a heavy dose of his own anger that his book and reporting wasn't taken more seriously by US journalists or by President Fox.
I was thrilled to have Annerino's remarkable photographs included in this text. And as much as I hated his heavy handedness I did finish the book, because he is right. Hundreds of annual deaths and disappearances should be a national outrage. And it was worth navigating his ego to get these details.
He's famous as a photographer and he may want to stick with that.
But while I'm obsessing about the border I guess I can't be too picky.
Man, if there was ever a worthy and under-reported issue tragically massacred by the hubris and self-involvement of its author, this is it.
I'm especially struck by the hovering presence of the narrator on the heels of reading Enrique's journey. Where Sonia Nazario's basic stance is "yes, as a journalist I engage in some of these risky activities, it is far worse for the kids who do this without the luxury of a motel or the protection of my government." She minimalizes her own presence in the book by telling most of the story through Enrique's eyes, adding her own experiences only to clarify, or amplify Enrique's story. For Annerino much of the text is his own first-hand account of his experiences of marching through the desert with his friends and colleagues, with a heavy dose of his own anger that his book and reporting wasn't taken more seriously by US journalists or by President Fox.
I was thrilled to have Annerino's remarkable photographs included in this text. And as much as I hated his heavy handedness I did finish the book, because he is right. Hundreds of annual deaths and disappearances should be a national outrage. And it was worth navigating his ego to get these details.
He's famous as a photographer and he may want to stick with that.
But while I'm obsessing about the border I guess I can't be too picky.
April 2, 2012
This book is excellent. It's well written, has good photographs, and clearly lays out the data. It's current through 2009 and lists the number of people rescued or killed attempting to cross the southern border of the United States to find work. There are, of course, too many undocumented deaths for the count to be accurate, but Annerino does his best to give good estimates.
He talks about boths sides of the conflict, and make no mistake, this is a conflict. He talks about the immigrants that just want to work, to support their families, and would do it legally if they could. He talks a little about the bad guys, the drug dealers and others bringing in not just people, but drugs and weapons. He talks about the manhunters of the United States, who track the illegals and often, rescue them from the driest desert in the USA. The coyotes tell their pollas that a gallon of water will do for the crossing. The minimum distance is sixty miles, and Annerino, having trained and run for this type of environment, uses 1 gallon for every 10 miles. Most the the immigrants die of thirst if they're not rescued. It's an appalling number of people who die every year trying to cross into the USA.
An excellent read for anyone interested in the immigration issues of any border, really, but specifically the southern border of the United States.
He talks about boths sides of the conflict, and make no mistake, this is a conflict. He talks about the immigrants that just want to work, to support their families, and would do it legally if they could. He talks a little about the bad guys, the drug dealers and others bringing in not just people, but drugs and weapons. He talks about the manhunters of the United States, who track the illegals and often, rescue them from the driest desert in the USA. The coyotes tell their pollas that a gallon of water will do for the crossing. The minimum distance is sixty miles, and Annerino, having trained and run for this type of environment, uses 1 gallon for every 10 miles. Most the the immigrants die of thirst if they're not rescued. It's an appalling number of people who die every year trying to cross into the USA.
An excellent read for anyone interested in the immigration issues of any border, really, but specifically the southern border of the United States.
November 18, 2009
Potentially interesting book by a photojournalist about crossing the US/Mexico border in the western Arizona desert, fatally marred by incomprehensible writing. Can you parse "Those who attempted crossing the US/Mexico border through the cruel desert many cursed as El Sahuaro including myriad Central American refugees risked losing the greatest treasure of them all" ? Get this guy some commas!
This is the same part of the border covered by The Devil's Highway, another kind of stupid book, but this one is more macho-explicit about the danger of the desert. Lots of grisly photos, too. I guess there could be a use for it, but like The Devil's Highway it turns Border Patrol agents into heroes and is pretty short on economic analysis.
This is the same part of the border covered by The Devil's Highway, another kind of stupid book, but this one is more macho-explicit about the danger of the desert. Lots of grisly photos, too. I guess there could be a use for it, but like The Devil's Highway it turns Border Patrol agents into heroes and is pretty short on economic analysis.
March 22, 2021
An incredible book, horrific and yet personal account of Annerino’s work with migrants. Photographs show the horror of crossing in the desert. Migrants contribute about $7 billion a year to Social Security—money they will never see when they “retire.” They may in fact be saving Social Security with their payments.
April 7, 2017
Good intentions.
Reverse elitism irritates me, and Mr. Annerino is guilty of same. The grim details of a desert crossing by illegal immigrants are compelling in their own right. Listing all of the upscale equipment and other amenities that well-to-do leisure hikers and campers have, and that the immigrants do not have, is irrelevant to the story and it discounts the immigrants' experience.
I read this book immediately after completing The Devil's Highway, by Luis Alberto Urrea, and Dead in Their Tracks suffers by comparison.
As with Mr. Urrea's book, I did appreciate Mr. Annerino's relatively even-handed treatment of the Border Patrol. He gives special recognition to Border Patrol agents who are driven to save the lives of those who try to cross the desert. I wish he'd offered specific examples to support the Human Rights Watch's reports he cited about "some of the terrible abuses by Border Patrol agents [in decades past]... disturbing accounts of murders, rapes, beatings, and intimidation ... rival the horror stories reported by Central American refugees in Tecun Uman, Guatemala ..."
One of Mr. Annerino's goals in publishing this ten-years-in-the-making work was to alert people to the tragedy of the desert crossing. I hoped he'd offer some thoughts on how to save lives. But he did not.
Reverse elitism irritates me, and Mr. Annerino is guilty of same. The grim details of a desert crossing by illegal immigrants are compelling in their own right. Listing all of the upscale equipment and other amenities that well-to-do leisure hikers and campers have, and that the immigrants do not have, is irrelevant to the story and it discounts the immigrants' experience.
I read this book immediately after completing The Devil's Highway, by Luis Alberto Urrea, and Dead in Their Tracks suffers by comparison.
As with Mr. Urrea's book, I did appreciate Mr. Annerino's relatively even-handed treatment of the Border Patrol. He gives special recognition to Border Patrol agents who are driven to save the lives of those who try to cross the desert. I wish he'd offered specific examples to support the Human Rights Watch's reports he cited about "some of the terrible abuses by Border Patrol agents [in decades past]... disturbing accounts of murders, rapes, beatings, and intimidation ... rival the horror stories reported by Central American refugees in Tecun Uman, Guatemala ..."
One of Mr. Annerino's goals in publishing this ten-years-in-the-making work was to alert people to the tragedy of the desert crossing. I hoped he'd offer some thoughts on how to save lives. But he did not.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews