Border Patrol Enforcement in the US: A Podcast on the History, Social Effects and Human Costs

Radiolab is a podcast and radio production in which hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich explore difficult topics ranging from science to philosophy in an accessible manner. But while some of its classic episodes focus on, for example, the intricacies of endangered species conservation, or whether our beliefs on blame could be revised, the following is an in-depth exploration of the United States' Southern Border, and the lives of people living – and sometimes dying – in its surroundings.

Hole in the Fence

The Trilogy's first episode focuses on the stories of high school students in one of the poorest neighborhoods in El Paso, Texas, became the targets of one of the largest federal law enforcement agencies, the Border Patrol. Their experience illustrates how the US-Mexico border has in recent years changed dramatically, often at the peril of migrants making their way to the United States, and that of communities in areas surrounding the border. 

Hold the Line

In episode two, we follow the story of Silvestre Reyes, which led the implementation of Operation Blockade, a social experiment responsible for diverting migration patterns along the entire US-Mexico border, and which got nation-wide attention as protests sparked and the White House started paying attention.

What Remains

In episode three, anthropologist Jason de León follows the trail of a grisly discovery in Arizona, a flesh-stripped human arm. With help from medical researchers and humanitarian groups, he found it used to belong to a woman called Maricela. He connects with her family, and analyzes the human cost of Border Patrol Policies.

Here, Radiolab goes more in depth, trying to parse what drives migrants like Maricela, despite the high risks, and what can be done to deter them – not much, as you may be guessing already.