One of the few feature films to have illegal aliens Borderline has Charles Bronson in charge of a border patrol station in Arizona. It's a thankless task he has because as is made clear a lot of these illegals are just pursuing the American dream. And why not? They read about the Statue Of Liberty and if they get to New York they see the lovely Ms. Liberty in our harbor with those words about "bring me your tired, your poor.....etc."
But what Borderline says is that illegal smuggling is a more organized racket than we think and Bronson has no doubt that it was those smuggling illegals who murdered his partner Wilford Brimley and a young Mexican kid Panchito Gomez. The FBI says it was drugs, Bronson says it was human smugglers. Therein lies the story.
Although he did some television and a few bits in some feature films, Borderline gives an 'introducing' credit to Ed Harris who plays a former Marine and killer of Brimley. He's not at the top of the villainy food chain here, but his skills make him a dangerous foe for Bronson. He's a coldblooded piece of work.
Also note Bruno Kirby as a new trainee from New York as if that speech pattern would have him from anywhere else.
One thing I didn't like was the business where Bronson goes undercover with a group of illegals using Karmin Murcelo the mother of the deceased boy as a guide because she is Spanish speaking of course. In real life he would have taken her information and I'm sure the Border Patrol has any number of Spanish speaking female agents for such work. Just ridiculous.
It's a complex topic, but Borderline dealing with smuggling illegal aliens will find favor with Charles Bronson fans.
