In last week’s reading the strengthening of the Dominican-Haitian border being used to fuel nationalism, which is something we have definitely seen in the United States with the demonization of Mexican immigrants as a threat and as a scapegoat for job loss. Pieces such as this that document the people who are crossing the US-Mexico border and the systemic reasons for the crossing are important to creating a more accurate narrative/discussion on the border. I think in particular De Leon does a good job of including the perspectives of the informants in her ethnography, and even using photos taken by them of their journey. The opening of chapter seven showed her ability to connect with her informants Lucho and Memo as well as introduce the high stakes of the crossing. This opening shows a potential value of using personal experience in an ethnography, in this case as a way to gain further investment from the reader