This has been a difficult week, as many mourn the deaths of Renee Good and others at the hands of ICE. As enforcement actions escalate across the country, the whole country becomes part of the borderlands, and thoughtful, detailed reporting from the region continues to become ever more important.

This week, we were happy to bring you a review by Caroline Tracey of an art exhibition by Sonora-born artist Miriam Salado that touched on themes of natural resources and violence in the Sonoran Desert and a reported analysis by Todd Miller about how a dramatic increase in private contracts figures into current border enforcement. Melissa del Bosque also spoke with border activist and ex-Border Patrol agent Jenn Budd about the recent ICE killings and agent impunity.

Now and into the future, we appreciate your readership and support!

This week in The Border Chronicle:

Profitable Violence: A New Era of the Border Industrial Complex

Last year was a bonanza for private companies doing business with Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Never had contracts been so lucrative, never had so much money been made.

The Border ChronicleTodd Miller

The Nature of Violence

This winter, a slice of the vast Sonoran Desert was transported to the central Mexican city of Querétaro. This took the form of Legado de fieras (Legacy of beasts), a midcareer re…

The Border ChronicleCaroline Tracey

A discussion with former agent Jenn Budd on Border Patrol and ICE impunity

I’ve been speaking with Jenn Budd for years about Border Patrol crimes, impunity and how the agency could be (and should be reformed.) But both Democrats and Republicans have refused to demand oversight and accountability for the highly politicized agency.

The Border ChronicleMelissa del Bosque

Upcoming arts and culture events:

For those readers in Phoenix, Arizona, there are two art events that may be of interest to Border Chronicle readers. This evening—Friday, January 16—artist Karima Walker, whose work was featured in this January 2025 article about the Santa Cruz River, opens Seers, a solo show related to themes of surveillance and artificial intelligence, at Step Gallery.

At Casa Caracol’s Raíz Gallery, artist maryhope | whitehead | lee’s solo exhibition, “Deadly Crossing: Death and Disappearance in the Sonora|Arizona Borderlands” is on view through Saturday, January 24. There will be a closing reception and borders collage workshop that day from 3-6 p.m.

More News from the Border:

Trump warned of a Tren de Agua invasion. US intel told a different story. WIRED

The U.S. is pressing Mexico to allow U.S. forces to fight cartels. The New York Times

Cochise Cronyism, Pt.1: A rural Arizona sheriff, ICE, and a quarter of a million dollars. Cochise County News

Cochise Cronyism, Pt. 2: Sheriff used office to shill for Canadian drone company seeking to cash in on militarized law enforcement. Cochise County News

Straight out of Project 2025: Trump’s immigration plan was clear. Capital and Main

How Donald Trump has transformed ICE. The New Yorker

Medical examiner likely to classify death of ICE detainee as homicide, recorded call says. The Washington Post

ICE prosecutor who runs racist X account returns to Dallas immigration court. Texas Observer

‘ELITE’: The Palantir app ICE uses to find neighborhoods to raid. 404 Media

Inside ICE’s tool to monitor phones in entire neighborhoods. 404 Media

Texas police invested millions in a shadowy phone-tracking software. They won’t say how they’ve used it. Texas Observer

You’ve heard about who ICE is recruiting. The truth is far worse. I’m the proof. Slate

ICE agents detain Navajo man in Arizona, ignoring US, tribal IDs. The Arizona Republic

Finally, while your holiday shopping might be finished, don’t forget to check out The Border Chronicle’s online Bookshop store to find something new to read! You’ll find the books we’ve covered as well as Todd, Melissa, and Caroline’s own books. A portion of all sales benefits our work.