Mexcian Immigration

II. History

A. Prior to 1848, the American Southwest was part of Mexico
- 1. 50,000 Mexicans choose to remain
- 2. Everywhere except New Mexico, Anglos took control
- 3. New Mexico continued under Nuevomexicano rule for many years
- 4. Tejanos and Nuevomexicanos most successful in maintaining culture
- 5. But did so in the face of heavy, direct attacks from Anglo culture
B. Prior to the Depression large numbers of Mexicans brought to U.S as cheap labor
- 1. Agricultural work throught West, as far north as Illinois
- 2. Important in mining and railroads after Chinese banned
C. Violence of Revolution and opportunity pushed many north
- 1. Mexican population rose from 100,000 in 1900 to 1.5 million in 1930
- 2. Recent arrivals became target of "Americanization" education campaign in California
D. Great Depression brings hardship, Anti-Mexican backlash
- 1. Many lost jobs, saw wages cut
- 2. Deportation program began
  - a. 30,000/year between 1929-1933
  - b. 400,000 (including U.S. citizens) by 1937
E. WWII - The bracero program
- 2. Negotiated program for temporary workers with Mexico
- 3. 200,000 between 1942 and 1947, earning $205 million
- 4. Ethnic tensions led to Zoot-Suit Riots, June 1943, in L.A.

III. Contemporary Issues

A. Rapid growth of Hispanic population, legal and illegal, has produced tensions
- 1. English Only campaigns
- 2. Proposition 187 in California
- 3. Anti-Immigrant campaigns
B. Immigration Reform and Control Act, 1987
- 1. First major legislation of current immigration policy
- 2. Imposes stiff penalties for employing illegals
- 3. Been followed by laws severely restricting asylum
- 4. Another new law deports all non-citizens convicted of a felony
C. Proposition 187 (California, 1994)
- 1. Referendum which passed
  - a. cuts off illegals from health care
  - b. removes illegal children from schools
  - c. requires all social services to verify status and report illegals
- 2. Proponents allege that illegals are a financial burden and breed crime
- 3. Both of these ideas are hotly debated
D. Increased militarization of border
- 1. National Guard, Army, Marines have all been used, as well as DEA and INS
- 2. Tragedies and brutalities have resulted
- 3. A Mexcian-American shepard, armed to protect his flock, was shot in one incident
- 4. On a larger scale, 18% of Mexican-American citizens along border report harrasment