Into the Beautiful North

The very literal and physical separation that is present in this story with the fence also serves as the biggest reminder to the Tres Camaronians of their sense of place, and with that, their sense of belonging. Even though they can see into the United States by the imaginary line that has been made into reality with a fence, Tacho recognizes that beyond the fence, it “just looks like more Mexico” (86). As absurd as the border is, it’s things like this that satiates our need to categorize things which helps to solidify people’s understanding of each other, however erroneous it may be. The fact that the warriors meet the same “types” of people on both sides of the fence (and in varied economic and racial classes as well) demonstrates the position that national boundaries do not classify people. Paradoxically, the border discriminates as well as comforts people: they know where they do or do not belong.