As Above, So Below

By Kirsten Luce

The Rio Grande Valley of Texas is the busiest corridor for illegal migration into the United States.

This series of aerial photographs documents state and federal agencies in their attempts to stem the flow of drugs and migrants across the Rio Grande.

In response to what Obama called a "humanitarian crisis" in the summer of 2014, billions in federal money was pledged to strengthen border security, with efforts focussed here in South Texas. This money, coupled with Texas Governor Rick Perry's 'Operation Strong Safety,' has resulted in a higher presence of agents, agencies and assets than ever before.

These pictures document the enforcement of current immigration legislation. The Valley, which is the most direct route to the US for Central Americans, is serving as a stage for this unfolding political drama.

All images were taken aboard helicopters federally funded under Homeland Security. Pilots and additional helicopters have been brought in from the Canadian border to fill the need for additional surveillance in Texas.

Billions of dollars are being spent to maintain this presence in South Texas. Central American migrants, escaping poverty and/or extreme violence, are borrowing upwards of $7000 for the dangerous journey North, evading agents and their technology each step of the way. These small fortunes changing hands enrich and embolden the smugglers, who have ties to the cartels operating with impunity in Mexico.

i

National Guardsman are stationed along the Rio Grande River to help with the overwhelming surge of migrants arriving from Central America. Texas Governor Rick Perry is using state funds to send DPS and National Guard to the Rio Grande Valley as part of his 'Operation Strong Safety.'

i

Two suspected migrants run away from the Border Patrol near the banks of the Rio Grande River in Texas, United States.

i

A suspected migrant runs back to Miguel Aleman, Mexico after being pursued by agents near Roma, Texas. This is called a "turnback." Border Patrol and other law enforcement cannot pursue migrants or smugglers back into Mexico.

i

Migrant footprints through a dried up pond south of Mission, Texas, near the Rio Grande River.

i

Twenty-two suspected migrants turn back to Miguel Aleman, Mexico after being pursued by agents on the riverbank south of Roma, Texas. These people are called "turnbacks." Border Patrol and other American law enforcement cannot pursue migrants or smugglers back into Mexico.

i

Texas Department of Public Safety boats leave a wake while monitoring the banks of the Rio Grande River.

i

Border Patrol agents search for the driver of a vehicle bailout in La Joya, Texas. When a vehicle carrying drugs or migrants is stopped by police, the occupants often flee and the agents must search for them by tracking their footprints. Migrants have died from the heat in these situations.

i

A solitary smuggler calmly swims back to Mexico with his clothing in a garbage bag. Once smugglers or migrants enter the Rio Grande river, they are out of the jurisdiction of the Border Patrol and savvy smugglers take advantage of this.

i

A Border Patrol vehicle travels along a road atop a section of the Border Wall in Granjeno, Texas. The wall is 20 feet high and smugglers must carry ladders to get past it or cross in a different area.

i

Bridges connect Reynosa, Mexico, left, and Hidalgo, Texas, right. This is the busiest corridor for human smuggling into the United States.

i

Footprints of migrants along the United States/Mexico border cross a freshly-plowed field in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas.

i

A group of fourteen migrants are spotted and eventually apprehended near Granjeño, Texas. After seeing the agents and helicopters, they were attempting to make their way back towards Mexico by walking through irrigation ditches that lead back to the river.

i

A Border Patrol agents pursues a group of migrants through sand dunes outside of Kingsville, Texas.

i

A migrant surrenders to Border Patrol on the banks of the Rio Grande River. This man was waving to the helicopters and waiting to be picked up by Border Patrol. This trend of self-presenting has been common in 2014 with asylum-seekers from violent Central American countries.