Concertina wire, named after the hand-held instrument with expanding and contracting bellows, was originally developed as an adaptation of barbed wire used during World War I. It was designed to slow movement, prevent entry, and contain passage.

Today, concertina wire is deployed along the Rio Grande between Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas. It functions as a barrier to migration, shaping the conditions of movement for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Over time, the border has taken on increasingly cruel forms.

Photographs taken in June 2024 document its presence along the border.