0:00:04 > 0:00:08RADIO: 'Good morning, Arizona. Beautiful day in the desert today.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10'Sun is shining, 105 in Tucson...
0:00:10 > 0:00:15'..and what forecasters say will be a prolonged heatwave...'
0:00:15 > 0:00:18- STACEY DOOLEY:- 'This is the heart of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25'There are no towns or villages here,
0:00:25 > 0:00:28'just hundreds of miles of 70 degree heat and rattlesnakes.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34'But this is a pathway to the American dream.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38'And it's a dangerous one.'
0:00:38 > 0:00:42RADIO: 'From the scorching hot desert to the cold county morgue,
0:00:42 > 0:00:44'unfortunately, that is how the story ends
0:00:44 > 0:00:46'for hundreds of immigrants who make that trip...'
0:00:46 > 0:00:50'In the last five years, more than 1,000 people have died
0:00:50 > 0:00:52'trying to walk across this patch of desert.'
0:00:55 > 0:00:56Do we know how this lady died?
0:00:56 > 0:00:59It is likely they succumbed to thirst.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02- This is common, this is happening often.- Yes.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05They don't think that they are going to be part of a statistic,
0:01:05 > 0:01:08they think that they are going to be the one that could make it.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14'I'm going to follow the young people preparing to make
0:01:14 > 0:01:17'the most dangerous journey of their lives...'
0:01:17 > 0:01:18Four, five, six... How many? 20?
0:01:18 > 0:01:23'..to find out why they're willing to risk it all to cross a border.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27'And I'll be meeting the Americans doing their best to keep them out.'
0:01:29 > 0:01:33It is dangerous. It's high risk, you know. Not everybody makes it.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46# California, rest in peace... #
0:01:49 > 0:01:52'For me, California is the American dream.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59'But just a day's drive east it's a very different picture.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05'The Sonoran Desert is on the border of America and Mexico.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09'And this is where many young people risk their lives trying
0:02:09 > 0:02:11'to cross into America illegally.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15'They prepare for their journey in a small town close to the border.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18'It's called Altar.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23'And I'm heading there. But it's risky.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27'This whole area of Mexico is controlled by drug cartels.'
0:02:30 > 0:02:33RADIO: '50,000 people have died in Mexico's drug war...
0:02:33 > 0:02:37'..to identify 49 bodies dumped on the side of a highway...
0:02:37 > 0:02:39'..police found 18 beheaded bodies in two vehicles.'
0:02:44 > 0:02:47This is a really hostile environment.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49It's notorious, so we both have to make sure
0:02:49 > 0:02:51the doors are locked at all times.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54This is the most daunting place I have ever been to,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57and I have been to some hairy scenes.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07'On the surface, Altar looks like an ordinary town,
0:03:07 > 0:03:11'but in reality nothing happens here without the cartel's say-so.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15'I needed someone to help me stay safe,
0:03:15 > 0:03:19'and was pinning my hopes on the local priest, known as the Padre.'
0:03:19 > 0:03:22- Hola.- Father Prisciliano?
0:03:22 > 0:03:26- Si.- Stacey.- Hola. - Lovely to meet you.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32I know it can be quite dangerous here, quite difficult,
0:03:32 > 0:03:37so I figured you would be an amazing man to have around, if that's OK.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45'The Padre has a unique position here.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49'He manages to help the migrants without antagonising the cartels.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56'It was soon clear that everything in Altar revolved around the business of people smuggling.'
0:04:02 > 0:04:07So why would it be too dangerous for me to be here alone?
0:04:29 > 0:04:32'First stop was a hostel.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35'The Padre knew people who worked here and felt we'd be safe.'
0:04:49 > 0:04:52'The Padre pointed me in the direction of Junior,
0:04:52 > 0:04:54'whose parents manage the hostel.'
0:04:54 > 0:04:55Hello!
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Sorry, you're in the middle of your washing.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01We'll come back, I'll give you a hand with it.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04'He agreed to show me around.'
0:05:04 > 0:05:06- This is one of the rooms? - Yes, this is one of the rooms.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Usually, about three people fit in each bed,
0:05:09 > 0:05:10so it would be three, six,
0:05:10 > 0:05:14- nine, 12, about 15 people in here. - Wow.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16In this one room, 15 people?
0:05:18 > 0:05:22There is usually about two or three people per bed.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24See this stuff right here?
0:05:24 > 0:05:27You can tell people are still staying here, because they have
0:05:27 > 0:05:30their blankets and their backpacks right here, but here,
0:05:30 > 0:05:33people used to stay here, but they left, you can see that they have left
0:05:33 > 0:05:35all their stuff they don't need right here.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Why do they do it? Why do they leave some stuff?
0:05:37 > 0:05:39When they come, they bring a backpack.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Their backpack is full of clothes, and their clothes,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44they use those clothes until they leave,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47and then all the clothes they have left, they just throw it away,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50because they need to fill up their backpack with food.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55And when you are out there, if I am walking like this
0:05:55 > 0:05:58and you have no water, and you are very thirsty,
0:05:58 > 0:05:59you are literally dying,
0:05:59 > 0:06:03and if you ask me for some water, I will say, "No, get your own."
0:06:03 > 0:06:06That is how the people are out there. Survival for the fittest.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Survival for the fittest.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12'I wanted to meet the people preparing to cross the border.'
0:06:12 > 0:06:13Hello!
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Como estas?
0:06:16 > 0:06:18Tell me when you got here, when you arrived.
0:06:22 > 0:06:23How do you feel?
0:06:27 > 0:06:28You seem very chilled.
0:06:36 > 0:06:37And how old are you, Maria?
0:06:40 > 0:06:41You seem much older.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48You seem so...
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Have you got any pictures of your babies?
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Maria, I'll see you soon.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32'Maria's already travelled almost 2,000 miles to get here.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36'She's come from Oaxaca, one of the poorest states in Mexico.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40'People-smugglers go here to sell the American dream,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43'charging up to 7,000 for the trip.'
0:07:52 > 0:07:54'Everyone here is now waiting for a guide,
0:07:54 > 0:07:58'a person they've paid to walk them across the desert into America.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01'They're known as coyotes.'
0:08:04 > 0:08:05Hola!
0:08:05 > 0:08:09'I'm told Alma and Marta have been waiting for their coyote for a week.'
0:08:09 > 0:08:10What's your age?
0:08:12 > 0:08:15And your mum and dad know that you're doing this journey?
0:08:30 > 0:08:33What about you, Alma? Have you left a family behind also?
0:08:57 > 0:09:01I have never ever been in a position where I have had to think,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03me mum's skint, me dad's skint,
0:09:03 > 0:09:07everyone's hungry, the only real solution to this
0:09:07 > 0:09:12is me risking my life to try and earn a wage and send it back.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15They are nice girls, they're normal.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18It's like me knocking about with my normal girls. They're young.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20They just want to grow up. They just want to work.
0:09:20 > 0:09:26'Alma's husband Pedro is also making the dangerous journey across the desert.'
0:09:26 > 0:09:30Alma was mentioning that you've left your little boy at home.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42And how many days do you think you could do it in?
0:09:44 > 0:09:47I know it's a silly question, but does it scare you?
0:09:47 > 0:09:49Are you frightened?
0:10:02 > 0:10:04When do you think, realistically, that you, your wife
0:10:04 > 0:10:06and Marta will leave?
0:10:12 > 0:10:14In an hour? One hour?
0:10:20 > 0:10:23'Alma and Marta has pulled together the bare essentials.'
0:10:23 > 0:10:26So what's in that bag, Alma?
0:10:31 > 0:10:32Oh, yeah. So what are these?
0:10:39 > 0:10:44Really? So you put this on your foot so they can't find your footprint?
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Wow.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58Will this be enough for possibly five days?
0:11:04 > 0:11:07'It would have to be, because their coyote had just arrived,
0:11:07 > 0:11:10'and it was time for them to set off for the border.'
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Bye.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18The guys have literally just got in the van.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23There's ten or 12 of them, and they're off.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27- They're off to try and cross the border.- There's still going to be a lot more people.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30There's more people coming, is there?
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- Yeah, there's more people going inside. - How many do you think will leave?
0:11:33 > 0:11:36It's usually like 20 people inside one van.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39It will be very hot in there and they have to drive for two hours.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52I've only spent a short while with them, but you start...
0:11:52 > 0:11:56I would never say it to them, but you start thinking in your head,
0:11:56 > 0:11:57what if...
0:12:00 > 0:12:04You know, what if you don't make it across?
0:12:04 > 0:12:05What if you die?
0:12:10 > 0:12:13'I started to feel that, although the cartels were out of sight,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16'they were everywhere, and anything could happen.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27'Back at my motel, without the Padre for protection,
0:12:27 > 0:12:30'it really hit home where I was.'
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Sorry, I just thought I heard something outside.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35GENTLE WHISTLING
0:12:42 > 0:12:44That whistling is really sinister.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48There's somebody whistling outside my motel room.
0:12:52 > 0:12:53He can probably see in.
0:12:59 > 0:13:04In a motel, one of the most dangerous parts of Mexico.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07What am I doing here?
0:13:19 > 0:13:22I wasn't made for this weather. It's so, so hot.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24It's heat like I've never felt.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Then again, that's me sat on a block of stairs in the shade,
0:13:29 > 0:13:34not out in the desert for days and days trying to cross the border.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40'I wanted to see the place where the people
0:13:40 > 0:13:43'I'd met yesterday were planning to cross.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45'It's a two-hour trip to the border,
0:13:45 > 0:13:49'and the road's controlled by the cartel.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53'The Padre had warned people we were coming,
0:13:53 > 0:13:56'but he told them we were missionaries, not a film crew.'
0:13:57 > 0:14:00We can film or not film? There's a car coming.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15STACEY HUMS NERVOUSLY
0:14:16 > 0:14:20'If the cartels controlled the smuggling of drugs and people,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22'I wondered if their two businesses were ever linked.'
0:14:24 > 0:14:30Father, seeing how desperate so many people are here,
0:14:30 > 0:14:34do you reach a certain level of desperation,
0:14:34 > 0:14:40where you are perhaps tempted to start getting involved in the business,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43start taking packages or things over that you are asked to take?
0:14:43 > 0:14:47"All right, we'll take you over, but could you take this with you?"
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Does a bit of that come into it?
0:15:11 > 0:15:16So how many vans would you say go through this route every day?
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Each hour? Each hour?
0:15:44 > 0:15:47- Wow. Hola!- Hi, Stacey!
0:15:47 > 0:15:49So where are you guys going to? Need I ask?
0:15:54 > 0:15:58- Camping!- We are going to work. To America!
0:16:04 > 0:16:06This way?
0:16:10 > 0:16:13'Just metres from the border, I found a makeshift camp
0:16:13 > 0:16:17'with people sheltering as best they could from the blazing sun.'
0:16:18 > 0:16:22The heat is absolutely...it's like nothing I've ever felt before.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24I can't explain it.
0:16:24 > 0:16:30It makes you feel lethargic and you feel... It's not nice.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35'I wanted to know about the journey from here,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38'but the Padre told me it was too dangerous to ask a coyote.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42'One thing was for sure -
0:16:42 > 0:16:45'no-one could go anywhere until the coyote said so.'
0:16:48 > 0:16:49Hello, my name's Stacey.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53- Rodrigo. Nice to meet you. - Rodrigo, night to meet you also.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56So, how long have you been waiting here?
0:16:56 > 0:17:00Well, just in this place, it's been 2½ or three days only.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03We have to wait until there is the right moment for us to go across,
0:17:03 > 0:17:05because we don't want to be caught.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08- Where are you from?- Mexico City. - OK.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12Have you always lived there? Or have you lived in America?
0:17:12 > 0:17:15No, I was there when I was little, but my family brought me
0:17:15 > 0:17:18to United States, so I have been there since then.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21I went to school there, you know. I been there for 20 years,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24and I haven't had the chance to get the papers.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28- Have you done this journey before? - Yes, like three or four times.
0:17:28 > 0:17:29Really?
0:17:30 > 0:17:33If I could have a better life in Mexico City, I would never go through this.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38But it is getting harder in Mexico.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40There is no job for you
0:17:40 > 0:17:44and there is a lot of bad activities in Mexico -
0:17:44 > 0:17:49drugs, weapons, kidnapping, things like that.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51I've never experienced anything like this before.
0:17:52 > 0:17:58And I hope in my heart that you never have to go through this situation.
0:17:58 > 0:17:59I don't know how you do it.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09'I could see why Rodrigo thought he could cross here.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16'But then I realised there was more than just a low fence
0:18:16 > 0:18:17'standing in his way.'
0:18:17 > 0:18:19Border patrol.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23'To try and stop drugs and illegal immigrants getting in,
0:18:23 > 0:18:26'the US border agency was out on patrol.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30'It's a dangerous game of cat and mouse to get past them.'
0:18:53 > 0:18:55But he's in America now.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58I'm worried that border patrol are going to come
0:18:58 > 0:19:00and find him and the two girls.
0:19:08 > 0:19:13Are you guys literally leaving right now to cross the border?
0:19:19 > 0:19:22What happened? Why weren't you successful?
0:19:24 > 0:19:29Shoot! Oh, my gosh. This is all from the trip?
0:19:43 > 0:19:46'Their coyote was nowhere to be seen.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49'They'd each paid 7,000 to get across.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52'Now they have nothing to show for it.'
0:19:55 > 0:19:58This is probably the scariest place I've ever been.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01I don't feel particularly comfy.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Padre doesn't feel that comfy, and I know that's
0:20:03 > 0:20:07when it's time to maybe not start pushing your luck.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13'Just as we were leaving, there was news about the girls who'd
0:20:13 > 0:20:15'collapsed just beyond the border.'
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Hola. How are the girls?
0:20:18 > 0:20:20How are the girls?
0:20:29 > 0:20:30The girls were caught?
0:20:41 > 0:20:43So the girls will be deported, but the two lads,
0:20:43 > 0:20:46there was another two guys with them, and they've made it back.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51If you meet people who are in the worst situation possible,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54but for these guys, they are so blase about it, it's so normal.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Just another day on the border.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09More migrants. More, more migrants.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14Got their water bottles, got their cars.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23It's just never-ending. It's absolutely never-ending.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30'It's estimated that almost one million people
0:21:30 > 0:21:33'attempt to cross into America like this every year.'
0:21:36 > 0:21:41Today really hammered home for me the scale of this business.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45It's huge. It's rife. It's massive out here.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48There's thousands and thousands of Mexicans and people from
0:21:48 > 0:21:54South America trying to cross this border every single day, every hour.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56I liked Rodrigo. I think he was a really nice guy.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58I think he was genuine.
0:21:58 > 0:22:03I think he wanted to cross the border for reasons that
0:22:03 > 0:22:05I completely understand.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09Yeah. I felt for him. I was gutted for him.
0:22:09 > 0:22:15He's...in a pretty crappy situation, to be honest.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26'The following morning, I headed back to see the Padre.'
0:22:27 > 0:22:31Oh, hello, baby. Oh, who's this scary English lady?
0:22:35 > 0:22:37And Mummy and Daddy.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48- Really?- Si.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57Wow.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02'Manuela, Jorge and baby Pedro have travelled
0:23:02 > 0:23:05'more than 2,000 miles from their village in Guatemala,
0:23:05 > 0:23:09'another place coyotes go to drum up business.'
0:23:58 > 0:24:00So you've got a big debt now.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03You've got a big debt that's growing and growing
0:24:03 > 0:24:06that you have to pay back to the coyote?
0:24:23 > 0:24:27PEDRO WAILS
0:24:41 > 0:24:44HE CRIES
0:24:44 > 0:24:47He's OK. He's fine.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57'I'd never seen people so desperate.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59'We couldn't do anything about their mounting debt,
0:24:59 > 0:25:04'but the Padre told us the Red Cross might be able to help baby Pedro.'
0:25:04 > 0:25:08The Father sent us over. I hope that's OK.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Shh! Shh! Shh!
0:25:38 > 0:25:41'The doctor told us Pedro had the flu.'
0:26:00 > 0:26:03This is a leaflet especially just for migrants?
0:26:30 > 0:26:35I mean, do you have any of these things ready for the desert?
0:26:42 > 0:26:46Even though Pedro's poorly, if you got asked to go tonight,
0:26:46 > 0:26:48would you leave? Would you go?
0:27:07 > 0:27:10In my heart, I don't reckon
0:27:10 > 0:27:12it's a good idea to bring Pedro over if he's poorly,
0:27:12 > 0:27:16but it's totally obviously not my shout.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20She's his mum. She knows best.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24It's sort of...the lesser of two evils.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28You stay here and life is...
0:27:30 > 0:27:32..a nightmare.
0:27:32 > 0:27:38Or you take a chance and hope that it ends the way you want it to end.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49''The next day I paid a final visit to the hostel.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53Hello! All right? What's going on?
0:27:54 > 0:27:56'I wanted to see if Maria was still there
0:27:56 > 0:28:00'or had managed to start her own journey into America.'
0:28:01 > 0:28:06Hey! Maria! Hello, love! All right?
0:28:08 > 0:28:10You OK?
0:28:10 > 0:28:11Como estas?
0:28:11 > 0:28:13What are you doing?
0:28:15 > 0:28:16You're leaving now?
0:28:21 > 0:28:27So this is water? Agua? Is that enough, Maria? One bottle?
0:28:27 > 0:28:29It's going to be enough for you? Are you sure?
0:28:40 > 0:28:43For me, I can never imagine having to put myself
0:28:43 > 0:28:45in that situation you have had to.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09'To keep her safe in the desert,
0:29:09 > 0:29:12'there was one more thing Maria wanted to do.'
0:29:35 > 0:29:38Thank you so much. Gracias. Gracias.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44We've got to go?
0:29:44 > 0:29:46OK. OK.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52I have to leave right now because of the cameras.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55The van's got to come and collect them,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58but he won't come whilst he knows we're here with the Father.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14I really like Maria, I think she's a really good girl.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51'The Padre couldn't give us any more time,
0:30:51 > 0:30:54'so it was time for us to say goodbye.'
0:30:54 > 0:30:58Thank you so, so, so much
0:30:58 > 0:31:01for keeping me alive and showing me everything.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03I've learnt loads. Thank you, Father.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06- Nos vemos. Que descanses. - Thank you.- That's OK.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11- Adios!- Adios, amigo!- OK.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21'Thanks to the Padre, I'd had a chance
0:31:21 > 0:31:25'to see what was happening to people on the Mexican side of the border.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29'But it was time to look at things from the other side of the fence.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33'With a British passport and a work visa,
0:31:33 > 0:31:36'it was easy for me to get into America.'
0:31:36 > 0:31:38Hola. Hello.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42- Where are you coming from? - Oh, erm... Mex... Mexico.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45- What was the purpose of your trip? - Working. It was with work.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48- All right. Have a good day. - That's very kind. Thank you.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54'Now I was in the American part of the Sonoran Desert,
0:31:54 > 0:31:56'in Arizona.
0:31:58 > 0:31:59'For the people I'd met in Mexico,
0:31:59 > 0:32:04'the Sonoran Desert is a pathway to the American Dream.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07'But it's also a notorious drugs route.'
0:32:07 > 0:32:11'Mexican traffickers routinely take advantage
0:32:11 > 0:32:14'of huge gaps along the border to smuggle their contraband.'
0:32:14 > 0:32:19'US Border Patrol and Texas agents seize another load of marijuana.'
0:32:21 > 0:32:25'The US Border Patrol is America's first line of defence.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29'Now I had a chance to really see the border,
0:32:29 > 0:32:31'but, this time, through Border Patrol's eyes.'
0:32:33 > 0:32:37- Oh, my God! I'm nervous. - Oh, don't be nervous.- Oh.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39- Stacey, this is your air crew. - Hello. How's things?
0:32:39 > 0:32:41The pilot in command is Jeff Bowen.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44- How's things, Jeff? Nice to meet you.- Co-pilot is Ron.- Hello, Ron.
0:32:44 > 0:32:45So, what's the plan for today?
0:32:45 > 0:32:47Talk me through what you guys will be doing.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50Well, what we've got, we've got a pretty simple mission today.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52We're going to go out and take a look
0:32:52 > 0:32:54to see anything that looks out of the ordinary.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57It's going to be people, it's going to be vehicles,
0:32:57 > 0:32:59it's going to be drug-loaded vehicles...
0:32:59 > 0:33:02And, in summertime, we probably do as many rescues as anything
0:33:02 > 0:33:05because, when we're capturing people in this heat,
0:33:05 > 0:33:07- we're saving them.- Yeah.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22'Within minutes,
0:34:22 > 0:34:25'we saw a group caught by Border Patrol on the ground.'
0:35:17 > 0:35:20'201 for 17.'
0:35:20 > 0:35:23So, we've just got a call, we've just got a call in now.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25We've got a call around a place called Horse Peak.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28Are they nearby?
0:35:28 > 0:35:29Yeah, we're almost there.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34- Good job, Jeff.- This side's up.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38'We touched down just 2 miles from the Mexican border camp
0:35:38 > 0:35:41'I'd been to only days before.'
0:35:41 > 0:35:45- Do we need a medic?- Yeah, she will. She's... She's pregnant.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48She's pregnant, she's hurt her stomach!
0:36:07 > 0:36:08This man's concerned.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10You know, he's had a look at the lady
0:36:10 > 0:36:12and if they don't elevate her feet
0:36:12 > 0:36:14and get her in some kind of comfortable position,
0:36:14 > 0:36:18there's a chance that she could give birth here.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30- She says she's hurt it bad, man. - Yeah, load her up and take her.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32She's not...
0:36:32 > 0:36:35- Please may you just tell me what's happened here, very quickly?- She...
0:36:35 > 0:36:39I guess, she heard us and she started running but she fell
0:36:39 > 0:36:41and she stumbled...
0:36:41 > 0:36:43So, she's seven months pregnant right now,
0:36:43 > 0:36:44no complications or pregnancy problems.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46She's having a lot of pain in her stomach.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48And are these all migrants?
0:36:48 > 0:36:51Are they here to work? Were they here carrying drugs?
0:36:51 > 0:36:54- What's the story? - No, they're here, probably, to work.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56- So, yeah, they're just regular people.- Did you find the coyote?
0:36:56 > 0:36:59No. We don't know yet. We don't know.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01We haven't interviewed them yet, so...
0:37:01 > 0:37:03How many have you detained?
0:37:03 > 0:37:07I think we've got, like, maybe eight right now.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10Please may I ask where you think these people have come from?
0:37:10 > 0:37:13She's from Guatemala. De donde son ustedes?
0:37:16 > 0:37:17They're from Guatemala.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21- So, what's your name?- Huh?
0:37:21 > 0:37:23- What's your name?- Benjamin. - Benjamin?- Yeah.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25Is this your first time trying?
0:37:27 > 0:37:29Uh, I've been in USA five years.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32- That's why you can speak English? - Yeah, that's why I speak English.
0:37:32 > 0:37:36Have you paid a lot of money to do this?
0:37:36 > 0:37:386,000.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52'Border Patrol told me they often find heavily pregnant women
0:37:52 > 0:37:54'trying to cross the desert.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56'They're hoping to give their babies a better life
0:37:56 > 0:37:58'by giving birth in America.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01'They're known as anchor babies.'
0:38:24 > 0:38:27Tonight was pretty out-there, for me.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32She looks like she could give birth there and then.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34Like, it was just...
0:38:34 > 0:38:36and then she was lying on the floor and she was crying
0:38:36 > 0:38:37and then a youth...
0:38:39 > 0:38:41And at the time, it's so mad, you...
0:38:41 > 0:38:44you don't...
0:38:44 > 0:38:47you feel nervous and then you panic for her
0:38:47 > 0:38:51and then Border Patrol are really happy because they've got this...
0:38:51 > 0:38:53they've found all these people, so you think...
0:38:53 > 0:38:55You're just... You...
0:38:55 > 0:38:56I feel really torn.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06'Border Patrol catch around 300,000 people
0:39:06 > 0:39:08'trying to make this crossing every year.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11'But it's estimated that almost double that amount
0:39:11 > 0:39:14'could still be getting past them.
0:39:14 > 0:39:15'So, in Arizona,
0:39:15 > 0:39:18'they've pushed through tough new measures to try and catch more.'
0:39:18 > 0:39:22'Police officers are going to be able to stop any person
0:39:22 > 0:39:26'if there is reasonable suspicion they are an illegal immigrant,
0:39:26 > 0:39:28'demand to see ID and arrest them...'
0:39:28 > 0:39:31'But for a small minority of people, this is not enough.'
0:39:32 > 0:39:35# Have you seen...? #
0:39:35 > 0:39:37- SHE LAUGHS - Hello. How's things? I'm Stacey.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40- Hi, I'm Harry Hughes. - Real pleasure to meet you, Harry.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43- Hello.- Thora Jaeger.- Hello, Thora. Nice to meet you both.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45- Thanks for having me.- Great.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49# Have you seen that vigilante man? #
0:39:49 > 0:39:53We have a problem with drug and human smuggling out here
0:39:53 > 0:39:55and people are on edge... people are scared.
0:39:57 > 0:39:58'Harry and his group
0:39:58 > 0:40:01'do their own unofficial patrols of the border area,
0:40:01 > 0:40:03'and he's invited me to join them.'
0:40:03 > 0:40:05- Are you not hot in that? - Huh?- Are you not hot in that?
0:40:05 > 0:40:08What happens is you begin to perspire
0:40:08 > 0:40:13and that little, light breeze will actually make you feel kind of cool.
0:40:13 > 0:40:14OK.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19This is a vest, it's a chest rig.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22It holds ammunition, I have a radio on this thing...
0:40:25 > 0:40:27..it's comfortable to wear...
0:40:27 > 0:40:31I keep the 9mm pistol right here, both have extra ammunition...
0:40:31 > 0:40:32Will we get a move on?
0:40:32 > 0:40:35Is that you ready? Are you going to be able to drive in all of that?
0:40:35 > 0:40:38One last thing, my water.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44Oh, gosh, Harry. You're making me hot, looking at you.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46Let's go.
0:40:48 > 0:40:49This is it.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53- Is that gun... Is it on safety? - Oh, yes, it is.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55Don't take my leg off!
0:40:58 > 0:40:59'Although he's armed to the teeth,
0:40:59 > 0:41:03'Harry claims it's just for protection whilst out on patrol.'
0:41:05 > 0:41:08So, Harry, where are we?
0:41:08 > 0:41:09We're...
0:41:09 > 0:41:11we're in the infamous Vehicle Valley.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13We're along Interstate 8.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17We have Thora, Alex, Sue and David.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20So, you guys come out here with Harry? Tell me why.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Tell me why you're here.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25To stop... To try to stop some of the stuff that goes on
0:41:25 > 0:41:28as it gets further in, like, to my house.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32When the illegals come through and steal chickens and...
0:41:32 > 0:41:35They just need to find some way to stop the borders, to close them.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38You know, every effort they've done has done absolutely nothing.
0:41:38 > 0:41:39If anything, it's gotten worse.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43And how do you know about all these things that go on, Alex?
0:41:43 > 0:41:45- By the news.- By the news?- Yes.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47Do you see migrants yourself?
0:41:47 > 0:41:48- Have you seen...?- Sometimes, yeah.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52We see them all the time. In the fields, they're working...
0:41:52 > 0:41:53They...
0:41:53 > 0:41:55overtook our area.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57They... They're gross.
0:41:57 > 0:41:58THEY LAUGH
0:41:58 > 0:42:02I mean, do you honestly believe that people
0:42:02 > 0:42:05would rather come over here illegally than legally?
0:42:05 > 0:42:08- Honestly? You do think that? - It's cheaper.- A lot of people do.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10And they do, because...
0:42:10 > 0:42:12The first thing they do when they come in this country
0:42:12 > 0:42:14is commit a crime.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16They're not here for a better life.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21So please may you explain to me, very simply,
0:42:21 > 0:42:24what happens here with the migrants coming in illegally?
0:42:24 > 0:42:25OK. We have the Interstate here.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29They know where the bridges are and they will crawl under these bridges,
0:42:29 > 0:42:31under the bridge here, and wait.
0:42:31 > 0:42:35- And then, I guess...- Alex is showing where they come through.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37- Alex!- What?- Come back.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41Do these people come from the desert?
0:42:41 > 0:42:44- Will they have walked a couple of days in the desert?- Yeah.
0:42:44 > 0:42:45And they will wait there, yeah.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47This is how they go through our fences.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Just like that.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52- And then a car will come here? - And then a car will be right here,
0:42:52 > 0:42:54where the tyre marks are, and they will pick them up
0:42:54 > 0:42:58and back onto the Interstate and to other cities and states
0:42:58 > 0:42:59and gone they are.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03Check this out, Stacey.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05This is where they keep their water.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08This is, perhaps, the icon for illegal immigration
0:43:08 > 0:43:11in Southern Arizona, it's these black plastic jugs.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13There is a path, a trail of these jugs
0:43:13 > 0:43:15leading all the way from here to Mexico.
0:43:15 > 0:43:17Why do you want to stop these people?
0:43:17 > 0:43:21Well, just for the safety and security of my own neighbourhood.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23People in my neighbourhood are scared of these people
0:43:23 > 0:43:25running around at night, you know,
0:43:25 > 0:43:28knocking on doors, disturbing animals...
0:43:28 > 0:43:31If you stumbled across an illegal immigrant,
0:43:31 > 0:43:33what would you do?
0:43:33 > 0:43:37I've got the Border Patrol's phone number right in my phone.
0:43:37 > 0:43:40They know me by name down there, so yeah, they would...
0:43:40 > 0:43:43most certainly oblige and, you know, dispatch somebody to...
0:43:43 > 0:43:46you know, process them, take them and just...
0:43:46 > 0:43:48run them through the system and send them home.
0:43:52 > 0:43:53So, Mexico is this way?
0:43:53 > 0:43:54That's correct.
0:43:56 > 0:43:59You know, people are walking...
0:43:59 > 0:44:01three, four, five, six days...
0:44:01 > 0:44:05- From beyond those mountains, yes. - ..from beyond these mountains.
0:44:05 > 0:44:09Then when they get here, they must think, "I've made it!"
0:44:10 > 0:44:11"I've done it."
0:44:11 > 0:44:13HE LAUGHS They might.
0:44:15 > 0:44:16Until they bump into you.
0:44:18 > 0:44:19It's a long walk, that.
0:44:27 > 0:44:30I think you can't help but...
0:44:30 > 0:44:36just keep imagining Maria, Manuela, baby Pedro, people like that.
0:44:38 > 0:44:41You know, it's realistic... they could really be...
0:44:41 > 0:44:4560-odd miles that way, coming,
0:44:45 > 0:44:48just coming from Mexico into America and...
0:44:48 > 0:44:50this would be the actual route that so many people I've met
0:44:50 > 0:44:53would take...will take.
0:44:53 > 0:44:55You know, a couple of days ago, a week, whatever,
0:44:55 > 0:44:58I wouldn't have, if I'd seen them black bottles here, I would...
0:44:58 > 0:45:00I wouldn't have even given them a second thought,
0:45:00 > 0:45:03but it sort of hammers home that...
0:45:03 > 0:45:06this is very real. That sounds silly, but it is.
0:45:06 > 0:45:11It's real people, really crossing this real border and...
0:45:11 > 0:45:13really risking their lives and...
0:45:13 > 0:45:17God, how unlucky would you have to be to bump into someone like...
0:45:17 > 0:45:18Harry?
0:45:29 > 0:45:31'Later that night, I got some news.'
0:45:33 > 0:45:36I've had an e-mail saying...
0:45:38 > 0:45:40..I've got a message off of Maria.
0:45:45 > 0:45:47SHE LAUGHS
0:45:47 > 0:45:49Wow!
0:45:50 > 0:45:52She made it.
0:45:52 > 0:45:58# California, California
0:45:58 > 0:46:02# Here we come... #
0:46:02 > 0:46:04Maria is now one of the six million Mexicans
0:46:04 > 0:46:06living illegally in America.
0:46:07 > 0:46:09They mostly work
0:46:09 > 0:46:12in low-paid farming, cleaning or construction jobs.
0:46:12 > 0:46:15Maria's found herself a job picking fruit.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19We arranged to meet in a local park,
0:46:19 > 0:46:21but as she's illegal,
0:46:21 > 0:46:24I had to make it clear I couldn't help her in any way.
0:46:26 > 0:46:27Hello!
0:46:27 > 0:46:29Hola!
0:46:30 > 0:46:31Wow!
0:46:31 > 0:46:33Oh, my God!
0:46:36 > 0:46:38- You OK?- Yeah, yeah.
0:46:38 > 0:46:40I can't believe you're here!
0:46:40 > 0:46:42Do you want to come over? You look wicked!
0:46:42 > 0:46:44Mmm?
0:46:44 > 0:46:46- You look lovely.- Oh, si!
0:46:46 > 0:46:48- Si!- Muy diferente.
0:46:48 > 0:46:52'Being seen with a film crew was clearly making Maria feel nervous.'
0:46:56 > 0:46:58How tiring is it, Maria? How...
0:46:58 > 0:47:00..difficult is it to do that journey?
0:47:31 > 0:47:34Is it worth you being here? Are you going to get money here
0:47:34 > 0:47:37that you perhaps wouldn't have been able to get at home in Mexico?
0:47:49 > 0:47:52And how long would it take you, Maria,
0:47:52 > 0:47:54to earn 600 in Mexico?
0:48:04 > 0:48:08Are you feeling worried at all? Because you are here illegally.
0:48:36 > 0:48:38'Maria wasn't keen to hang about
0:48:38 > 0:48:40'and I couldn't blame her.
0:48:40 > 0:48:44'As long as she stays here, she'll always live in fear of being caught.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49'Whether you're rounded up by Border Patrol crossing the desert
0:48:49 > 0:48:53'or you've lived illegally in America for 20 years,
0:48:53 > 0:48:55'if the authorities find you, you'll be deported.
0:49:00 > 0:49:03'Most people are sent back through the same crossing point.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06'On one side of the border is the city of San Diego
0:49:06 > 0:49:11'and on the other the Mexican city of Tijuana.'
0:49:11 > 0:49:14# Tijuana
0:49:14 > 0:49:19# Land of broken dreams
0:49:19 > 0:49:20# Senorita... #
0:49:20 > 0:49:22'When people are deported, they may not even have
0:49:22 > 0:49:24'a chance to pack their things.
0:49:24 > 0:49:28'They can be sent back with just the clothes they're standing up in.'
0:49:29 > 0:49:32- What's your name? - Catalina.- Catalina?
0:49:32 > 0:49:36- Stacey.- Oh.- Nice to meet you.
0:49:36 > 0:49:38What happened?
0:49:54 > 0:49:57What...? What did your son say?
0:50:03 > 0:50:07You're going to stay at the shelter now.
0:50:07 > 0:50:08What, after the shelter?
0:50:08 > 0:50:10Where are you going to stay?
0:50:48 > 0:50:52This situation's really, really, really difficult.
0:50:53 > 0:50:55You know, some of the time, I'm thinking,
0:50:55 > 0:50:57"Stacey, be realistic. You do need borders.
0:50:57 > 0:50:59"You can't, sort of, open the doors willy-nilly
0:50:59 > 0:51:02"and let every single person that wants to come into America in."
0:51:04 > 0:51:07Because then, maybe, perhaps, Americans will start to suffer.
0:51:07 > 0:51:10You know, you have to think about it... more broadly.
0:51:10 > 0:51:13But then when you bump into ladies like that, you just think...
0:51:17 > 0:51:18..just let her go back.
0:51:21 > 0:51:23You know, there's illegal immigrants in London.
0:51:23 > 0:51:26I don't think I'll ever...
0:51:26 > 0:51:27erm...
0:51:27 > 0:51:30..look at them in the same way. I don't think you can.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33I think, when you've seen things like this, you really get to...
0:51:35 > 0:51:39..understand how other... You know, other people's circumstances.
0:51:42 > 0:51:45'The Mexican government offers people a ticket to their hometown,
0:51:45 > 0:51:48'but I wondered what happened to those, like Catalina,
0:51:48 > 0:51:50'who had no family to go back to.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55'I went to meet Michaela, a woman who has dedicated her life
0:51:55 > 0:51:58'to helping people who have nowhere left to go.'
0:52:01 > 0:52:05This is where all the deported people end up after they are deported,
0:52:05 > 0:52:08and they don't have a place to live and they don't have a job.
0:52:08 > 0:52:12- So, we're going to feed them a little bit. OK?- Yeah, no, sure.
0:52:12 > 0:52:16- So, what, they live here? In the canal?- They live here, in the canal.
0:52:30 > 0:52:34Why do a lot of the guys choose to live here, particularly here?
0:52:34 > 0:52:36Because they don't have...
0:52:36 > 0:52:38When they are deported, they don't have a place to live
0:52:38 > 0:52:41and some people cross to United States.
0:52:41 > 0:52:44- They just keep trying? - Yes, keep trying, yeah.
0:52:44 > 0:52:46- So, this is like a base, is it?- Yes.
0:52:47 > 0:52:52- It's a very hard life here.- I mean, this is like raw sewer, isn't it?
0:52:52 > 0:52:54You can smell it, it's quite strong.
0:52:55 > 0:52:58- The people live inside of... - They live inside there?
0:52:58 > 0:52:59Yes, inside.
0:52:59 > 0:53:03- Are people living inside there now? - Inside, yes.
0:53:03 > 0:53:06- Are they there now...?- Yeah. Do you want to go inside?- These guys?
0:53:06 > 0:53:08OK.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10We go there and serve the food to these people.
0:53:12 > 0:53:14Come with me.
0:53:18 > 0:53:20- Aqui!- Hola! All right?
0:53:24 > 0:53:26- There you go. Pleasure. - Thank you very much.- No worries.
0:53:26 > 0:53:28- God bless you.- Oh, God bless you.
0:53:28 > 0:53:31God bless you, eh?
0:53:33 > 0:53:35Do you want to go?
0:53:39 > 0:53:40Oh, this is grim.
0:53:40 > 0:53:42SHE CRIES OUT
0:53:45 > 0:53:49- And this... And this is where people are living?- Yes.
0:53:49 > 0:53:52This is just incredible, I cannot believe...
0:54:09 > 0:54:11I mean, Rose, do you find this tricky?
0:54:11 > 0:54:14Cos you're from America... I mean, I'm sure you and I
0:54:14 > 0:54:16have grown up in very similar environments.
0:54:16 > 0:54:18What on earth goes through your mind
0:54:18 > 0:54:20when you first see something like this?
0:54:20 > 0:54:23Um, I think there's absolutely no reason for it.
0:54:23 > 0:54:25There's no reason why people need to be living like this.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27It's hard to think that,
0:54:27 > 0:54:29for people that have lived in the United States,
0:54:29 > 0:54:32just as good, hard-working, honest citizens...
0:54:32 > 0:54:34Well, illegal citizens, but, whatever, you know...
0:54:34 > 0:54:37..that have lived in the United States, they've got family there,
0:54:37 > 0:54:39their lives are there, it's really hard to envision
0:54:39 > 0:54:42that all that can just be taken away in one instant.
0:54:42 > 0:54:46For every person you meet that's deported, which, I think,
0:54:46 > 0:54:49in the past four years, has been about 400,000 people,
0:54:49 > 0:54:53there's...there's a family that's missing at least one
0:54:53 > 0:54:56or maybe two or maybe three of their family members, you know?
0:54:56 > 0:54:59It's like a nightmare. I've talked to guys who've said it's like a bad dream,
0:54:59 > 0:55:02it's like you wake up one day and say, "What happened?"
0:55:04 > 0:55:06- I was... I was in LA since I was 11 years old...- You sound it!
0:55:06 > 0:55:08..and then I...I got deported
0:55:08 > 0:55:11and they told me, "Hey, you never had no papers,
0:55:11 > 0:55:14"you were here since you were a baby but you don't have no papers.
0:55:14 > 0:55:17"You can't come into this country, so we're going to kick you out."
0:55:17 > 0:55:19- Could... Could you believe that...- I can't.
0:55:19 > 0:55:21- ..you were hearing all that? - No, I can't believe it.
0:55:21 > 0:55:24I mean, I want to go back. I want to go and see my kids.
0:55:24 > 0:55:26I want to die on the other side, you know?
0:55:26 > 0:55:28It's not that I love America so much,
0:55:28 > 0:55:31but I was raised over there, that's my life over there.
0:55:33 > 0:55:35'It's too late for these people,
0:55:35 > 0:55:39'but President Obama recently changed immigration policy,
0:55:39 > 0:55:43'allowing young people brought to the US illegally as kids,
0:55:43 > 0:55:45'and who've gone through the American school system,
0:55:45 > 0:55:47'a chance to become legal there.'
0:55:51 > 0:55:53Do you see the yellow line over there
0:55:53 > 0:55:55- dividing the United States and Mexico?- Yeah.
0:55:59 > 0:56:01OK. This is the United States.
0:56:01 > 0:56:04Oh, my God! There's a car right there.
0:56:04 > 0:56:06Are we OK here? We're not going to get in trouble?
0:56:06 > 0:56:08No, no, no. This is Mexico.
0:56:08 > 0:56:12- This is the United States, though. See?- That's California?- Yes.
0:56:12 > 0:56:14- That's California?- California, yes.
0:56:14 > 0:56:15It's a stark contrast,
0:56:15 > 0:56:17what you see there to the left
0:56:17 > 0:56:21- and what you see to the right.- You see the rich side and the poor side.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24You can see two sides.
0:56:28 > 0:56:32If you're born a couple of hundred metres this side,
0:56:32 > 0:56:35the chances are, life could be very, very, very difficult
0:56:35 > 0:56:37and you're going to struggle for most of it.
0:56:37 > 0:56:39If you're born a couple of hundred metres that way,
0:56:39 > 0:56:42you've got way more opportunities,
0:56:42 > 0:56:45things are certainly going to be brighter from the off.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47You can travel, you can do lots...
0:56:47 > 0:56:50You can do so much more over that side, like,
0:56:50 > 0:56:52and it's luck. It's just luck.
0:56:54 > 0:56:55That's all it is.
0:57:42 > 0:57:47Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd