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View of a "no-man's land" along the McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa toll bridge. These areas are neither private property nor publicly maintained and are excellent hiding areas for people who have just crossed the river illegally.

A old railroad track stands covered in vegetation. Tress line both sides of the tracks as they extend into the distance.

A ferry carrying three cars crosses the Rio Grande at Los Ebanos. Several people also stand on the ferry.

An small black fence surrounded by dried shrubs marks an abandoned cemetery along the Rio Grande.

The Amistad Reservoir was created by mutual international agreement, flooding a large land area. The original Rio Grande channel was preserved as the permanent border line through the reservoir. Below the Amistad Dam, the water is free of silt and…

Several Kickapoo huts stand on a dirt road. In the background, telephone poles are visible.

An abandoned road overlooks the Rio Grande while small shrubs occupy the space leading to the river. In the background, the outlines of large mountains are visible.

Hot springs and the ruins of a spa along the north side of the Rio Grande within the "Big Bend" area of Texas and Coahuila.

Two large shrubs mark the beginning of an irrigation ditch that leads downward. In this area, the Rio Grande is dry, and many aliens attempting to cross suspect this ditch to be the river.

Three people walk along the left side of the bridge while dried vegetation and telephone poles are visible on both sides. In the distance, buildings mark the beginning of the town.

Several trees surround a small area littered with refuse and branches.

Front view of the new International Bridge at Presidio, Texas. The border is located at the break between the color of the cement.

Side view of the new International Bridge at Presidio, Texas. The border is located at the break between the color of the cement.

These abandoned cotton fields on the Rio Grande between Ruidosa and Candelaria were flooded and overgrown. Several trees mark the end of the field, and behind them, large mountains extend towards the cloudy sky.

As with many borders, conflicts arise. Ownership of the El Chamizal tract, consisting of 630 acres of disputed land between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, remained in dispute for nearly a hundred years. The issue involved the interpretation of how fast…

Fire damaged tamarisk (salt cedar) trees obscure the view of the Rio Grande.

According to treaties negotiated between Mexico and the United States, shared waterways must maintain specific water flow. Instead of losing water to evaporation and seepage, hoses may be used to carry the required water across the border. These…

The canal, slightly obscured by vegetation, is bordered by a dirt road on the left. Most water from the river is used for irrigation. Canal reduces the flow within the river to minimal levels. As a consequence, many undocumented workers attempting to…

An almost dry Rio Grande. Dried vegetation lines both sides of the river bank. The Rio Grande is often reduced to a trickle and can become difficult to recognize. Because of growing agricultural demand for the water, many irrigation ditches actually…

A dirt road stands between the border wall and a chain link fence outside El Paso. In the distance, a Ferris wheel documents the festivities in town.