The Line Becomes A River By Francisco Cant\u00fa

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Risks

20180226

20180227 (R4)

Former US Border Patrol Agent, Francisco Cantú worked on a remote spot on the US/ Mexican border from 2008-2012.

He recounts how he tracked down an unending stream of men, women and children who risk all for a better life in the US away from the violent crime that underpins their lives in Mexico.

Francisco tells the personal stories of the weary and the spent who he turns backs, and of the many who don't survive the gruelling journey through the vast desert during summer's searingly hot days and freezing nights.

Born to the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, the border is in his blood and his decision to become a law enforcer came after four years of learning about it through policy and history while studying international relations, and the realisation that theory isn't enough. He needs to be on the ground to understand the border in all its beauty, ugliness and danger.

After four years the personal toll is more than he can bear and he leaves the Patrol but when an immigrant friend does not return from a trip to Mexico to visit his dying mother he is returned to a world that he discovers is impossible to leave behind.

His account is interwoven with reflections on the history, culture, nature and psychology of the border, and is more broadly about life on either side of an arbitrary line, wherever it is.

Francisco Cantú's is a Fulbright fellow, and in 2017 he was a Whiting Award winner.

Read by Joseph Balderrama - known for roles in the James Bond film, Spectre and The Game of Thrones.

Abridged in five parts by Richard Hamilton

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2018.

Francisco Cant\u00fa recounts his haunting experiences of policing the US-Mexican border.

Francisco Cant\u00fa recounts his experiences of policing the US-Mexican border.

Creation

20180227

20180228 (R4)

Francisco Cantú, a former Border Patrol Agent recounts how the US/Mexican border was created.

He finds beauty in the landscape as well as despair.

Francisco Cantú's memoir about working for the US Border Patrol also tells the personal stories of those who risk all for a better life in the US.

Born to the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, the border is in his blood. His decision to become a law enforcer came after four years of learning about it through policy and history while studying international relations, and the realisation that theory isn't enough. He needs to be on the ground to understand the border in all its beauty, ugliness and danger.

After four years the personal toll leads him to leave the Patrol but when an immigrant friend does not return from a trip to Mexico, Cantú is returned to a world which he discovers is impossible to leave behind.

His evocative account is interwoven with reflections on the history, culture, nature and psychology of the border, and is more broadly about life on either side of a boundary, wherever it is.

Abridged by Richard Hamilton

Read by Joseph Balderrama.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2018.

Francsico Cant\u00fa recounts how the US-Mexican border was created.

Francisco Cant\u00fa recounts his experiences of policing the US-Mexican border.

Questions

20180228

20180301 (R4)

Former Border Patrol agent, Francisco Cantu begins to question his work policing the US/Mexican border and how it is affecting his humanity.

Francisco Cantu's memoir about working for the US Border Patrol also tells the personal stories of those who risk all for a better life in the US.

After four years the personal toll leads him to leave the Patrol but when an immigrant friend does not return from a trip to Mexico Cantu is returned to a world which he discovers is impossible to leave behind.

His evocative account is interwoven with reflections on the history, culture, nature and psychology of the border, and is more broadly about life on either side of a boundary, wherever it is.

Abridged by Richard Hamilton

Read by Joseph Balderrama.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2018.

Francisco Cantu begins to question his work policing the US-Mexican border.

Francisco Cant\u00fa recounts his experiences of policing the US-Mexican border.

It's Personal

20180301

20180302 (R4)

Francisco Cantu's experiences of policing the US/Mexican border become personal when an immigrant friend attempts to make the perilous crossing.

Francisco's memoir about working for the US Border Patrol also tells the personal stories of those who risk all for a better life in the US.

His evocative account is interwoven with reflections on the history, culture, nature and psychology of the border, and is more broadly about life on either side of a boundary, wherever it is.

Abridged by Richard Hamilton

Read by Joseph Balderrama.

Francisco Cantu's experiences of policing the US-Mexican border become personal.

Francisco Cant\u00fa recounts his experiences of policing the US-Mexican border.

Understanding

20180302

20180303 (R4)

Former Border Patrol agent Francisco Cantu gains a new understanding of the US-Mexican border.

Francisco's memoir about working for the US Border Patrol also tells the personal stories of those who risk all for a better life in the US.

His evocative account is interwoven with reflections on the history, culture, nature and psychology of the border, and is more broadly about life on either side of a boundary, wherever it is.

Abridged by Richard Hamilton

Concluded by Joseph Balderrama.

Francisco Cant\u00fa recounts his experiences of policing the US-Mexican border.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Risks	20180226	20180227 (R4)	Former US Border Patrol Agent, Francisco Cantú worked on a remote spot on the US/ Mexican border from 2008-2012. He recounts how he tracked down an unending stream of men, women and children who risk all for a better life in the US away from the violent crime that underpins their lives in Mexico. Francisco tells the personal stories of the weary and the spent who he turns backs, and of the many who don't survive the gruelling journey through the vast desert during summer's searingly hot days and freezing nights. Born to the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, the border is in his blood and his decision to become a law enforcer came after four years of learning about it through policy and history while studying international relations, and the realisation that theory isn't enough. He needs to be on the ground to understand the border in all its beauty, ugliness and danger. After four years the personal toll is more than he can bear and he leaves the Patrol but when an immigrant friend does not return from a trip to Mexico to visit his dying mother he is returned to a world that he discovers is impossible to leave behind. His account is interwoven with reflections on the history, culture, nature and psychology of the border, and is more broadly about life on either side of an arbitrary line, wherever it is. Francisco Cantú's is a Fulbright fellow, and in 2017 he was a Whiting Award winner. Read by Joseph Balderrama - known for roles in the James Bond film, Spectre and The Game of Thrones. Abridged in five parts by Richard Hamilton First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2018. Francisco Cant\u00fa recounts his haunting experiences of policing the US-Mexican border. Francisco Cant\u00fa recounts his experiences of policing the US-Mexican border.
02	Creation	20180227	20180228 (R4)	Francisco Cantú, a former Border Patrol Agent recounts how the US/Mexican border was created. He finds beauty in the landscape as well as despair. Francisco Cantú's memoir about working for the US Border Patrol also tells the personal stories of those who risk all for a better life in the US. Born to the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, the border is in his blood. His decision to become a law enforcer came after four years of learning about it through policy and history while studying international relations, and the realisation that theory isn't enough. He needs to be on the ground to understand the border in all its beauty, ugliness and danger. After four years the personal toll leads him to leave the Patrol but when an immigrant friend does not return from a trip to Mexico, Cantú is returned to a world which he discovers is impossible to leave behind. His evocative account is interwoven with reflections on the history, culture, nature and psychology of the border, and is more broadly about life on either side of a boundary, wherever it is. Abridged by Richard Hamilton Read by Joseph Balderrama. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2018. Francsico Cant\u00fa recounts how the US-Mexican border was created. Francisco Cant\u00fa recounts his experiences of policing the US-Mexican border.
03	Questions	20180228	20180301 (R4)	Former Border Patrol agent, Francisco Cantu begins to question his work policing the US/Mexican border and how it is affecting his humanity. Francisco Cantu's memoir about working for the US Border Patrol also tells the personal stories of those who risk all for a better life in the US. Born to the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, the border is in his blood. His decision to become a law enforcer came after four years of learning about it through policy and history while studying international relations, and the realisation that theory isn't enough. He needs to be on the ground to understand the border in all its beauty, ugliness and danger. After four years the personal toll leads him to leave the Patrol but when an immigrant friend does not return from a trip to Mexico Cantu is returned to a world which he discovers is impossible to leave behind. His evocative account is interwoven with reflections on the history, culture, nature and psychology of the border, and is more broadly about life on either side of a boundary, wherever it is. Abridged by Richard Hamilton Read by Joseph Balderrama. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2018. Francisco Cantu begins to question his work policing the US-Mexican border. Francisco Cant\u00fa recounts his experiences of policing the US-Mexican border.
04	It's Personal	20180301	20180302 (R4)	Francisco Cantu's experiences of policing the US/Mexican border become personal when an immigrant friend attempts to make the perilous crossing. Francisco's memoir about working for the US Border Patrol also tells the personal stories of those who risk all for a better life in the US. Born to the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, the border is in his blood. His decision to become a law enforcer came after four years of learning about it through policy and history while studying international relations, and the realisation that theory isn't enough. He needs to be on the ground to understand the border in all its beauty, ugliness and danger. After four years the personal toll leads him to leave the Patrol but when an immigrant friend does not return from a trip to Mexico Cantu is returned to a world which he discovers is impossible to leave behind. His evocative account is interwoven with reflections on the history, culture, nature and psychology of the border, and is more broadly about life on either side of a boundary, wherever it is. Abridged by Richard Hamilton Read by Joseph Balderrama. Francisco Cantu's experiences of policing the US-Mexican border become personal. Francisco Cant\u00fa recounts his experiences of policing the US-Mexican border.
05	Understanding	20180302	20180303 (R4)	Former Border Patrol agent Francisco Cantu gains a new understanding of the US-Mexican border. Francisco's memoir about working for the US Border Patrol also tells the personal stories of those who risk all for a better life in the US. Born to the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, the border is in his blood. His decision to become a law enforcer came after four years of learning about it through policy and history while studying international relations, and the realisation that theory isn't enough. He needs to be on the ground to understand the border in all its beauty, ugliness and danger. After four years the personal toll leads him to leave the Patrol but when an immigrant friend does not return from a trip to Mexico Cantu is returned to a world which he discovers is impossible to leave behind. His evocative account is interwoven with reflections on the history, culture, nature and psychology of the border, and is more broadly about life on either side of a boundary, wherever it is. Abridged by Richard Hamilton Concluded by Joseph Balderrama. Francisco Cant\u00fa recounts his experiences of policing the US-Mexican border.