In the 1920s, many Mexicans were fired from their jobs due to intense anti-immigrant racism and the great depression.
Private and city local agents would show up at some people’s door with train tickets in hand, and say “pack your bags and get on this train.”
Hence the air quotes around “deported”.
At first, most American Mexicans left “voluntarily”:
They wanted to escape racism and find work.
The Mexican government promised them free land, as well, further pushing many to leave.
Many of the American citizens that left were the children of non-citizens, whose parents made them leave.
It wasn’t until later the federal government got involved, and comparatively fewer (90k, still a lot) were deported forcibly.
Interestingly, this is a common trend when we look at anti-immigrant action. The federal government is rarely the actor that does most of the damage. Most of the action comes from extremely racist MAGA-type populists going around burning property and attacking people en masse. See also the Chinese Exclusion Act.
The federal government is rarely the actor that does most of the damage. Most of the action comes from extremely racist MAGA-type populists going around burning property and attacking people en masse. See also the Chinese Exclusion Act.
This is the way “authorities” work. They sit quiet while the “unofficial volunteers” wreak havoc. If the authorities disagree with a groups actions they make take action against them. Otherwise inaction means they tacitly support it.
More details from the article:
Interestingly, this is a common trend when we look at anti-immigrant action. The federal government is rarely the actor that does most of the damage. Most of the action comes from extremely racist MAGA-type populists going around burning property and attacking people en masse. See also the Chinese Exclusion Act.
This is the way “authorities” work. They sit quiet while the “unofficial volunteers” wreak havoc. If the authorities disagree with a groups actions they make take action against them. Otherwise inaction means they tacitly support it.