La Migra

The poem’s title is a shortened version of the Spanish inmigración, meaning “immigration.” More specifically, Spanish-speaking individuals living near the US- Mexican border use “la migra” as a nickname for Border Patrol. Mora’s poem begins with an invitation to “play La Migra” (Line 1), imagining the relationship between Border Patrol agents and Mexican migrants as a sort of cat-and-mouse game, in which one side has the advantage of superior strength yet is repeatedly outwitted by its weaker opponent. Presenting this situation as a game endows it with a sense of predictability; the players’ attributes and strategies are known in advance. The Border Patrol inevitably relies on the symbols and tools of its authority and power (the badge, the gun, the jeep) and arrogantly assumes it can easily overwhelm the other side. On the other hand, border crossers trust that their perseverance, agility, and familiarity with the terrain will allow them to outsmart the pursuer. This is an old game. Individual players change, but, in its essence, the game remains the same.

The poem is divided into two parts (stanzas), each with its own speaker representing one of the opposing sides. The first part, spoken by the Border Patrol, is defined by a