Summary Of The Devil’s Highway By Luis Alberto Urrea. - The Devil’s Highway By Luis Alberto Urrea
Summary
TLDRIn 'The Devil's Highway' by Luis Alberto Urrea, the tragic journey of the Welton 26, a group of Mexican immigrants, is recounted as they traverse the perilous Yuma desert, led astray by their smuggler, Jess Mendez Lopez. The narrative delves into the harsh realities of border patrol, the smugglers' ruthlessness, and the immigrants' desperate struggle for survival. Urrea's Pulitzer Prize-winning work offers a poignant reflection on the human cost of border politics, as it explores the lives of those caught in the merciless desert and the aftermath of their harrowing ordeal.
Takeaways
- 📚 The book 'The Devil's Highway' by Luis Alberto Urrea tells a tragic story of the Welton 26, a group of Mexican immigrants who faced perilous conditions in the Yuma desert.
- 🏜 The Yuma desert, also known as 'Desolation', is depicted as a harsh and unforgiving environment, akin to a cursed land where many have met their end.
- 👮♂️ The U.S. Border Patrol's routine involves searching for 'signs' of illegal immigrants, often leading to encounters that can be harsh and dehumanizing.
- 💼 Don Juan Garcia, a fixer, lured men into the dangerous journey with promises of wealth, only to exploit them financially with the help of his boss, Chase Bureau.
- 🚶♂️ Jess Lopez Ramos, the smuggler, is portrayed as a young man caught up in the gangster lifestyle, viewing himself as both a revolutionary and a gangster.
- 🚍 The journey of the Welton 26 begins with a bus ride to the border town of Sonoita, followed by a series of hiding places before their desert trek.
- 🌙 The group's misfortune starts when they are led into the desert during daylight, causing disorientation and eventual loss of the trail under the cover of night.
- 🥵 The immigrants suffer from heatstroke and dehydration as they wander lost in the desert, with their situation worsening as water supplies dwindle.
- 💡 A desperate plan is devised where Mendez and Lauro leave to find help, but Mendez abandons the group, leaving them to their fate.
- 🆘 Five men from the group manage to find and signal a Border Patrol agent, initiating a rescue mission that saves some but finds many too late.
- 🏥 Survivors are questioned at the Yuma Medical Center, and their accounts, though varied, all identify Mendez as their smuggler.
- 🏛️ The incident sparks a debate on border politics and the need for reform, but changes are stymied by broader political events, leading to continued bloodshed and chaos.
- 🏆 Luis Alberto Urrea's work on 'The Devil's Highway' won the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction in 2005, highlighting his prowess as a creative writer and professor.
- 🌐 Urrea's extensive background includes work as an aid worker, columnist, editor, and professor, with his writing featured in various notable anthologies and collections.
Q & A
What is the main theme of 'The Devil's Highway' by Luis Alberto Urrea?
-The main theme of 'The Devil's Highway' is the perilous journey of a group of illegal immigrants, known as the Welton 26 or Yuma 14, who got lost in the Yuma desert due to the mistakes of their smuggler, Jess Mendez Lopez Ramos.
What is the significance of the term 'Desolation' in the context of the book?
-In the book, 'Desolation' refers to a vast desert mentioned in old religious writings where lost angels are buried, and it is used metaphorically to describe the Cabeza Prieta desert, which is the setting for the tragic events experienced by the Welton 26.
How does Urrea describe the life of the border patrol agents in Wilton, Arizona?
-Urrea describes the life of the border patrol agents as often boring and repetitive, with their job involving looking for signs of illegal immigrants in the desert. Despite their sometimes cruel treatment of those they catch, the agents are sensitive to the deaths they encounter in the line of duty.
What role does Don Juan Garcia play in the story?
-Don Juan Garcia is a fixer for the dangerous Circus border gang. He lures men with the promise of wealth and the ability to support their families, only to take their money upfront or as a loan, which he plans to recover by any means necessary with the help of his boss, Chase Bureau.
What is the significance of Jess Lopez Ramos in the journey of the Welton 26?
-Jess Lopez Ramos is the smuggler, or 'palero', who leads the group of immigrants across the border. Despite being at the bottom of the gang's hierarchy and being seen as disposable, he considers himself a modern-day revolutionary and a real gangster.
What is the turning point in the journey of the Welton 26 that leads to their tragedy?
-The turning point occurs when the group, still in daylight, is led by Mendes into the desert where they are blinded by bright lights, presumably from the border patrol. This causes the group to flee and lose their way, leading them further into the dangerous desert.
How does the group's situation deteriorate after getting lost in the desert?
-After getting lost, the group faces the harsh desert conditions, including extreme heat and lack of water. As they continue to stray off course, they experience symptoms of heatstroke, or hyperthermia, leading to a cruel and painful way of dying.
What is the plan the group devises when they realize they are going to die?
-The group decides that Mendes and one of his friends, Lauro, will go off on their own to bring back water and help. However, Mendes ends up leaving the group behind, promising to return but never does.
What happens to the group after Mendes and Lauro leave?
-After Mendes and Lauro leave, the group members continue to walk into the night on their own. Some of them eventually break off to seek help, and upon encountering a border patrol truck, they inform the agent about the others who are lost in the desert.
What is the aftermath of the tragedy for the survivors and the smugglers involved?
-The survivors are questioned by the police and their stories, although different and full of misunderstandings, all identify Mendes as their smuggler. Mendes pleads guilty to 25 counts of smuggling to avoid the death penalty. The survivors are given homes and jobs in the U.S. in return for their testimonies.
How does Luis Alberto Urrea reflect on the impact of the Welton 26 incident on border politics?
-Urrea contemplates that while the incident did not bring about the desired changes in border politics, it did highlight the ongoing bloodshed and chaos at the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite talks of reform between presidents George W. Bush and Vicente Fox, the events of September 11, 2001, halted any progress.
Outlines
📖 The Tragic Journey of the Welton 26
Luis Alberto Urea's 'The Devil's Highway' recounts the perilous journey of the Welton 26, a group of Mexican immigrants led astray by their guide, Jess Mendez Lopez, in the Yuma desert. The narrative begins with an introduction to the treacherous terrain of the Cabeza Prieta, likened to a biblical 'Desolation' where lost angels are buried. It delves into the life of the border patrol agents in Wilton, Arizona, their routine of tracking 'illegals,' and their complex feelings towards the immigrants they encounter. The story then shifts to the immigrants' backgrounds in Veracruz, their motivations for the journey, and the manipulative tactics of Don Jua Garcia, who exploited them for financial gain. The group's misadventure unfolds as they cross the border, are misled into the desert, and face the harsh realities of dehydration and disorientation. Mendez's abandonment of the group in their time of need is a pivotal moment, leading to their desperate struggle for survival.
🚨 Rescue and Repercussions
This section of the script details the harrowing aftermath of the Welton 26's desert ordeal. As the group becomes increasingly lost and faces death by hyperthermia, a few manage to break away and seek help, eventually encountering a border patrol agent. The swift response of the agent, Mike F, triggers a rescue operation, but not before many lives are lost. The narrative then moves to the Yuma Medical Center, where survivors are interrogated, and their accounts, though varied, all identify Mendez as their smuggler. Rita Vargas, the Mexican representative, aids in the investigation and advocates for the victims. The story of the survivors' potential is highlighted as they are granted protection and new lives in the U.S. in exchange for their testimonies. Mendez's sentencing and the broader implications of the incident on border politics are discussed, showing little change despite high-level talks between presidents. The author reflects on the lasting impact of the tragedy, the changes in border policies post-9/11, and his personal connections made through the process of writing the book. The author's background and accolades, including a Pulitzer Prize, are also mentioned, emphasizing the significance of his work in understanding the complexities of border issues.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡The Devil's Highway
💡Welton 26
💡Desolation
💡Border Patrol
💡Cabeza Prieta
💡Smugglers
💡Veracruz
💡Heat Death (Hyperthermia)
💡Migra
💡Circus Gang
💡Polaro
Highlights
The book 'The Devil's Highway' by Luis Alberto Urrea recounts the tragic journey of the Welton 26, a group of Mexican immigrants who faced fatal circumstances in the Yuma desert.
The group, primarily from Veracruz, was led by a smuggler named Jess Mendez Lopez, who made critical mistakes leading to their peril.
Urrea draws a parallel between the Cabeza Prieta desert and the biblical 'Desolation', a cursed land where lost angels are buried, emphasizing the harshness of the desert.
The U.S. Border Patrol's methods of tracking immigrants, such as analyzing footprints and trash left behind, are detailed, revealing the harsh reality of border control.
The book delves into the personal lives of the Welton 26, exploring their reasons for undertaking the dangerous journey to the U.S.
Don Jua Garcia, a fixer for the border gang, lured men with promises of wealth, only to exploit them for financial gain.
Jess Lopez Ramos, the smuggler, is portrayed as a young man enamored with the gangster lifestyle, despite his low status within the gang hierarchy.
The group's journey begins with a bus ride to the border town of Sonoita, followed by a stay in a safe house before their desert trek.
Mendez's decision to enter the desert during daylight, against the usual practice of waiting for darkness, led to their early detection by the Border Patrol.
The group's disorientation and subsequent deviation from the trail resulted in a harrowing ordeal of dehydration and heatstroke.
Mendez's abandonment of the group, promising to return with help, left the immigrants stranded and desperate in the desert.
The desperate measures taken by the group, such as drinking urine and eating cacti, highlight the extreme conditions they faced.
A small group's encounter with a Border Patrol agent led to a rescue operation, saving some lives but too late for others.
The survivors' accounts to the police, though varied and filled with misunderstandings, all identified Mendez as their smuggler.
The aftermath of the tragedy saw some survivors granted protection and a new life in the U.S., while Mendez faced justice for his actions.
Urrea reflects on the broader implications of the incident for border politics and the lack of substantial change despite high-level discussions.
In the 2014 afterword, Urrea discusses the impact of the book and his interactions with survivors, agents, and officials, emphasizing the human aspect of border issues.
Luis Alberto Urrea's background and accolades, including a Pulitzer Prize for 'The Devil's Highway', are highlighted, showcasing his expertise and contribution to literature.
Transcripts
summary of The Devil's Highway by Luis
Alberto orea
the famous author Luis Alberto area
tells the story of the Welton 26
sometimes called the Yuma 14 a group of
illegal immigrants mostly from the poor
Southern Mexican state of Veracruz who
got lost in the dangerous Yuma desert
after their palero Jess Mendez Lopez
Ramos made a series of fatal mistakes
urea starts by giving a short account of
the Haunted desert which is home to the
Cabeza Prieta or dark head National
Wildlife Refuge and The Devil's Highway
a dangerous stretch of desert
urea refers to old religious writings
that talk about a huge desert called
desolation where all of the lost angels
are buried
urea says that the Cabeza Prieta could
be and to the Welton 26 probably was
desolation itself a cursed and vengeful
environment that hurts and eats everyone
who passes through it
then talks about the way people at the
U.S
border patrol office in Wilton Arizona
live and what they do
he talks about how border patrol agents
cut for sign or look for proof of
illegals in the desert by paying close
attention to the footprints and other
trash that immigrants leave behind on
drags of smoothed over sand made by
border patrol agents
the Border Patrol song is often boring
and repetitive and the agents are often
cruel to the illegal immigrants they
catch in the Yuma desert because they
don't trust them
still agents are sensitive to the deaths
they see on the job and they think that
Smugglers who leave groups of walkers in
the desert are the worst people who
break the law along the border
IA tells about the lives of some of the
Welton 26 back in their home state of
Veracruz and how they were chosen to go
on the trip
Don jua Garcia was a fixer for the
dangerous circus border gang
he used the promise of wealth and the
ability to support their families to get
men to join him
he then got each of them to give him a
lot of money up front or as a loan which
he planned to get back by any means
possible with the help of his mysterious
boss Chase Bureau
up at the border the teenager who would
become the men's polaro or Smuggler Jess
Lopez Ramos likes the gangster life he
has made for himself with the help of
his Smuggler friend Maradona who got him
involved in the circus gang's business
of crossing the border
Jess is at the very bottom of the circus
gang's hierarchy so he is seen as just
as disposable as the paulos or
immigrants he takes across the border
even though he thinks of himself as both
a modern day revolutionary and a real
gangster
the guy's Don Moi has gathered in
Veracruz ride a bus to the northern
border town of sonoida
he hides the men in a rundown hotel and
then a small safe house then runs back
to Veracruz leaving the Palos to their
own devices
on May 19th the day their trip is
supposed to start Jess who goes by the
code name Mendes and two other men
Santos and lauro pick up the men from
their safe house and take them to a bus
stop
there Mendez pays a bus driver a fee so
that he will take the group to the
Border
after being dropped off the men walk
across the border and take a car driven
by another member of the circus gang El
negro to the beginning of their Trail
the group is ahead of plan because it is
still light outside
Mendes doesn't wait until it gets dark
instead he takes the group into the
desert where it is 100 degrees
the walk is hard but everyone is doing
fine until close to midnight when Bright
Lights blind them
Mendes who is usually not scared tells
his flock that La Migra or the border
patrol has come to get them
the whole group then flees into the
bushes and loses track of where they
were on the trail
after Mendes is sure there is no danger
he leads his group on either not knowing
or not wanting to accept that he has led
them into Uncharted Territory
as the night goes on the group keeps
getting further and further off track
on the second day of their trip The Men
Who were now utterly lost started to
feel the first signs of heat death also
called hyperthermia
this is a cruel and painful way to die
and it happens to many people who get
lost in the desert
Mendes takes his group farther into
desolation as the water runs out and
night Falls
they are now heading Southwest
Mendez keeps telling his people that
they only have a few more miles to go
by the next morning Mendes is also sure
that the group is going to die
the group comes up with a new plan
Mendez and one of his friends lauro will
go off on their own and bring back water
help or both
Mendez probably asked his walkers for
American dollars to pay for water or
transportation
he then left them behind and told them
to wait for him to come back
after a few hours the guys realize that
Mendes is not coming back for them
they keep walking into the night on
their own
the next morning after only walking 10
miles in 12 hours the first people in
their group start to die and the guys
show signs of being very lost
they are So Thirsty that they drink
their own pee and eat cacti to stay
alive but it is clear that if they don't
get help soon they will all die
Mendes and lauro battle through the
desert on their own until lauro falls
asleep from exhaustion
soon after Mendes does the same
Five Guys break off from the rest of the
group and go for help
as they got closer to a U.S
military bombing range they finally saw
a border patrol truck and waved for help
they tell Mike F the Migra agent who is
in the car that there are more guys who
got lost in the desert
Mike tells the Welton station what's
going on and within 10 minutes a rescue
plan is already in motion
some are still alive when they are found
but many are dead
at the Yuma Medical Center the cops
questioned the people who made it out
alive
their stories are very different and
full of misunderstanding but they all
say that Mendes was their Smuggler
the Mexican representative in Calexico
Rita Vargas comes to help with the
investigation and speak up for both the
living and the dead
the people who survived know that
sharing their stories could help them
stay in the U.S
so they help the police
after the Yuma 14 people who died in the
desert are checked and prepared for
burial they are set back to Mexico where
they are met by a crowd of mourners
Vargas wonders if the stories of these
men might have been different if the
huge amount of money they spent on their
trip back to Mexico nearly seventy
thousand dollars had been put into their
poor towns from the start
Mendes pleads guilty to 25 counts of
smuggling in order to avoid getting the
death penalty which could have been an
option
in the meantime the survivors want to be
protected in return for what they say
and many of them are given homes and
jobs in the United States
urea thinks about how nothing and
everything about border politics has
changed because of what happened to the
guys
presidents George W bush and Vicente Fox
talked about change but the events of
September 11 2001 put an end to any
hopes of a reform process
since the Welton 26 accident the U.S
Mexico border has been full of Bloodshed
and chaos
in an afterward he wrote in 2014 10
years after the book first came out
Berea talks about the connections he
made with survivors border patrol agents
U.S
and Mexican officials and even his
readers from all over the world
he says that his goal in writing the
book was to tell the stories of everyone
involved in the dangerous difficult
world of the Border including Walkers
Smugglers and Migra
about the author
Luis Alberto orea was born in Tijuana in
1955 to a Mexican father and an American
mother
his book The Devil's Highway was a
Pulitzer Prize winner for nonfiction in
2005 and he is now a well-known
professor of creative writing at the
University of Chicago
Raya has degrees from the University of
California San Diego and the University
of Colorado Boulder
he has worked as an aid worker in
Tijuana a columnist editor cartoonist
and professor at Harvard and the
University of Louisiana Lafayette
he has written 16 books of fiction
nonfiction and poems
his work has been included in best
American poems Norton anthology of
Latino literature and several
collections of fiction and non-fiction
about the American West and Latino
identity
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