Douglas Az

Pressed against the Mexican border, this isolated city in the high desert ranks as one of the nation's busiest gateways for illegal immigration. Encounters with illegal border crossers are so frequent that even Mayor Ray Borane hardly noticed the group of Mexicans hiding in the bushes recently outside the home he is building. "I have seen illegal immigration all my life," he said, shrugging. "Illegal immigration has a life of its own. You can't stop it."

Chris Simcox won't stop fooling with his gun. He paces his tiny office, bouncing on the balls of his feet, and every 15 seconds his hands go to the gun on his belt--hiking it up, adjusting its angle, checking its safety. It's a big gun, a two-toned .45 in a hard plastic holster, and whenever he is photographed by the media--which is often these days--Simcox makes sure the pistol is in every frame.