Borderlands - by Ken Salazar (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Informed by his life journey, former US ambassador to Mexico, US senator, and US secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar shares his unrivaled vantage on the US-Mexico relationship, the border and migration crisis, and his belief that the diversity of our many communities and cultures is America's superpower.

Like many Mexican Americans, the Salazars have deep roots in the American Southwest. They have ranched and farmed along the banks of the Rio Grande for more than four centuries, dating back to the founding of the nation's oldest capital, Santa Fe, when the entire Southwest was part of Spain or Mexico. They have called the San Luis Valley home since the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848.

Ken's innate connection to our nation's land, water, and people led him from his family ranch to law school and ultimately to the pinnacles of power in Colorado and Washington.

Borderlands traces the relationship of the United States and Mexico from its early days to the present. Framed by Donald Trump's attacks on American diversity, Ken recounts the early conflicts between our two countries; the treaties that created our modern and broken border; the political malpractice of both major US parties where it concerns migration and the border; and the necessity to fight for an inclusive and united America.

Told through personal stories from childhood to his time in Washington and Mexico City, Ken asks us to consider:

• What does it mean to be a US citizen?
• In a nation of immigrants, who counts as an American?
• If the diversity of our many communities and cultures is America's superpower, why is it being forsaken?
• How do we catalyze a movement to preserve and strengthen our democracy--one that recognizes the richness of American diversity as our nation's enduring strength?

Borderlands is a clarion call for a different way forward, one that unites North America instead of divides it. It invites you to come and see the prairies, deserts, and mountains, and feel the history and culture of our peoples. Come and meet your neighbors. Come and witness the strength of American diversity for yourself.

Review Quotes

"From the ranch to the Senate and the president's cabinet, Ken lived the American dream and had a career defined by hard work and selfless public service. Borderlands offers every American insight into what our country can be at its best, and how we must overcome divisive politics to solve the hardest challenges we face together."
--Senator Mark Kelly

"Ken Salazar's Borderlands is both a testament to the importance of effective public service and a powerful tribute to the diversity that built America."
--Senator Catherine Cortez Masto

"Borderlands is a powerful reminder that the story of America cannot be told without the story of the border and the people who live there. Ken Salazar brings dignity, truth, and a reminder that diversity is America's superpower, to a conversation our country urgently needs. Ken Salazar has spent his life telling the truth about the border and the people who call it home. Borderlands honors the history, culture, and resilience of Mexican Americans and reminds us that our stories are essential to the story of America."
--Eva Longoria

"Ken Salazar has long been revered for his devoted and distinguished public service--as a United States senator, secretary of the Interior, and diplomat--and for his countless contributions to our country. His compelling retelling of the uniquely American journey that shaped his trailblazing career is deeply profound, and offers vital lessons to citizens of all ages. And his bone-deep commitment to our country's best ideals, and the many insights that he provides on how we can recommit ourselves to achieving them, will inspire generations to come."
--Congressman Joe Neguse

"At its core, Borderlands is an urgent plea to reckon with the painful, tragic moment we are in; it is a celebration of diversity and a clarion call for unity and understanding. There's never been a more urgent moment in our lifetime to heed Ambassador Salazar's powerful message, his warning, his hope, and his optimism."
--Congresswoman Veronica Escobar

"Ken beautifully expresses and captures what it means to be part of America today. By blending his own personal story with history, he brings to life a broader narrative about identity, migration, and the communities that shape this country. Borderlands is a thoughtful reminder that the story of Latino communities is not separate from the American story: it sits at the heart of it."
--Luis A. Miranda, president of 5000 Broadway Productions and chairman of the Miranda Family Fund

"Borderlands is an amazing book, and Ken Salazar is one of the great storytellers needed to heal our nation's divides . . . He tells many real stories in this remarkable book with the color and drama that only lived experience can provide. Borderlands is a must-read for Colorado and our nation!"
--Senator John Hickenlooper

"Borderlands is a gripping and deeply personal journey through the fault lines of identity, power, and belonging. Ken Salazar not only brings readers inside the moments that shaped his own life as a public servant, diplomat, and son of the Southwest, but his memoir is an urgent account of some of the most complex immigration and national security challenges we face. At such a pivotal moment, Ken Salazar challenges us all to lead with both strength and principle."
--Congressman Jason Crow

About the Author

A fifth generation Coloradan, Ken Salazar's ancestors have lived in the American Southwest for more than four centuries. Ken grew up in his native San Luis Valley on the remote Salazar homestead, where his family continues to farm and ranch the same property they've owned since before Colorado became a state. Ken served as United States ambassador to Mexico from 2021 to 2025, where he led the US diplomatic mission during a pivotal time for North American relations. In this role, he repeatedly urged for decisive action to address border security, migration to the United States, climate and North American economic integration. Before serving as US ambassador to Mexico, Ken served as US secretary of the Interior under President Barack Obama (2009-2013), as Colorado's 35th US senator (2005-2009), and as Colorado state attorney general (1999-2005). Ken devotes much of his time to family and ranching in the San Luis Valley. He continues to be a champion for conservation, civil rights, and an inclusive America.