The article shows the results of different surveys carried out in recent years on crime and violence on the border of Mato Grosso do Sul, as well as some recent indicators on public security in the state. It also discusses about the limits and possibilities of thinking of the border as a sociological category. It begins with a reflection about the problems related to the interpretations of the border as a place of crime and violence. Then qualifies some indicators of public security in the state and present some perceptions about the border expressed by public security and justice professionals who work in the Grande Dourados region. Among other results, we highlight that, in addition to being in a border region that has an impact on the number of drug seizures and arrests, Mato Grosso do Sul is also strongly marked by violence against indigenous peoples. This raises the challenge of thinking about the state border beyond the geographic limits that separate Brazil from neighboring countries, and from the internal borders – physical and symbolic – that confine and subject vulnerable groups to lethal violence and serious violation of rights.