The Devil's Highway Analysis

The Devil’s Highway a creative nonfiction a novel written by Luis Alberto Urrea and published in 2004. This creative nonfiction novel tells the true story of twenty-six people attempting to cross the United States border, through the desert called The Devil’s highway. Only twelve people made it out alive. The walkers were being guided by two coyotes, and Mendez. They all got lost, so Mendez abandoned the walkers. This eventually leads to the deaths of the walkers. Mendez is being accused of the deaths of the walkers, but Mendez should not be entirely responsible for the deaths of the people who died in the desert. The reasons why he is not responsible are that, the people decided to go through the desert on their own will, the guilt and remorse …show more content…
The walkers decided to go to through the desert on their own will, they were not forced to live their worst nightmare. Here is one example that will prove that Mendez should not be responsible for the deaths of the walkers. “How bad could that be? He liked oranges. He wasn’t afraid to work. He added his name to the list.” This quote shows how one of the walkers signed his name to cross the border on his own will, he was not forced. He knew what he was getting into, the walker knew the risk. Another example is that, “He had no doubt he would survive, no matter what happened to him. And his boys signed up with him,” This shows that these group of kids decided to cross the border on their own will. The kids thought they were going to survive and live. If anybody should be held responsible it should be the walkers itself.
Additionally, Mendez should not be entirely responsible for the deaths of the people who died in the desert. He has the feeling of guilt and remorse. “I really am sorry from the bottom of my heart what happened,” Mendez feels guilty and remorse, the worst kind of pain a human being can face is the guilt of somebody dying because of your actions. Even if Mendez was responsible for the deaths of the walkers, he will still feel guilty and remorse. “it wasn’t my intention to lead them to their death,” He feels so upset that a lot of people died on his decision, …show more content…
“It was obvious to some of them that Mendez was never coming back.” Mendez never came back for the walkers. Mendez should pay for leaving the walkers to die. Mendez does not know the suffering that the walkers had to go through. For that he should face the consequences. “Mendez and Lauro marched north.” Mendez should be held responsible for the deaths of the walkers. He left them to die, he first collected the money, and then left north with Lauro. Mendez knew their was water and a ride in the highway. He left the walkers because they were slow, he should be held responsible for the deaths of the walkers.
To Close, the United States should put more effort on protecting the border. If the United States would put more effort, immigrants would not be crossing the border to begin with. The United States should grant citizenship to immigrants that are in danger, in their own country or immigrants that are looking for a better life. There are some people who are against on helping immigrants, but put yourself in their shoes. Then you would understand and see the struggle that every immigrant

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The Devil's Highway Analysis