Empire of Borders
by Krishan Kumar
Mentioned once across 1 show · first heard Jun 2026 on Behind the Bastards.
The general take
James Stout found Empire of Borders by Todd Miller to be prescient and memorable, particularly appreciating how it held up when he reflected on it during time in the Dominican Republic. He also noted that the earlier book Border Patrol Nation was ahead of its time in the early 2010s, suggesting Miller's work has proven insightful in ways that have become more relevant over time.
About
The United States is outsourcing its border patrol abroad - and essentially expanding its borders in the process. The 21st century has been an era of hardening borders-increased borderland patrols, surveillance, and militarization are widening the chasm between those who can vacation (or do business) where they please, and others whose movements are restricted by armed guards. But as journalist Todd Miller finds in Empire of Borders , the US border is also becoming increasingly fluid, expanding thousands of miles outside of US territory often to protect Washington's interests. In places like Argentina, Kosovo, Honduras, Jordan, and Afghanistan, US border patrol works alongside local agents to block migrants, terrorists, drug runners, and smugglers from ever approaching the US.
Who said what
James Stout👍 Recommends
…discussing books about border enforcement and immigration policy
“Empire of Borders by Todd Miller. a lot of Border Patrol Nation is from the early 2010s too so it was really kind of prescient in many ways yeah very much so like I remember reading that book and then like thinking about it a lot as I was in the Dominican Republic”
Behind the Bastards — It Could Happen Here Weekly 237at 1:07:38
Listener reviews
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