Includes bibliographical references.

Twenty-first century battlefields -- The U.S. "border set" on the Guatemala-Honduras divide -- The global pacification industry on the Palestine-Mexico border -- "Selling a security state" -- Securing inequality on the U.S.-Mexico border -- Borders of empires, the colonial creation story -- Maps of empires -- The Caribbean frontier -- The Philippines and the periphery of empire -- Extreme vetting -- "We've got big brothers and sisters all over the place" -- The global caste system -- Armoring capitalism, "teaching the Mexicans how to fish" -- Armoring NAFTA -- "A return on our investments" -- Resistance and transformation on the U.S.-Middle East border -- The unholstered border -- The right to the world on the U.S.-Syria border -- The U.S.-African border in the anthropocene : the case to dissolve borders -- "Shoring up the frontiers of fortress America" -- Negotiating borders on a warming planet -- The future : the airport and the ceiba in Copan.

"The twenty-first century has been an era of hardening borders--increased borderland patrols, surveillance and militarization are widening the chasm between those who can vacation (or do business) where they please, and others whose movements are restricted by armed guards. But as journalist Todd Miller finds in Empire of Borders, the US border is also becoming increasingly fluid, expanding thousands of miles outside of US territory often to protect Washington's interests. In places like Argentina, Kosovo, Honduras, Jordan and Afghanistan, US border patrol works alongside local agents to block migrants, terrorists, drug runners and smugglers from ever approaching the US. Empire of Borders traces the rise of this border regime, along with practices of "extreme vetting" and the vast global industry for border and homeland security. But in visiting the Jordan/Syria border, as well as Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Kenya, Palestine, Mexico and the Philippines, Miller finds instead a global war against the poor"-- Provided by publisher.