The Forgotten History of Over a Half Million U.S. Deportations to Mexico in the 1930s Emma Niles - Truthdig
go to original April 13, 2017

"Decade of Betrayal": How the U.S. Expelled U.S. Citizens to Mexico in 1930s (Democracy Now!)

Over a million people, more than half of whom were American citizens of Mexican descent, were deported to Mexico from the United States in the 1930s - yet this massive wave of deportations is often overlooked.

Francisco Balderrama, an expert on this “decade of betrayal,” argues this period in American history must be brought to light. Balderrama, an author and professor of American history and Chicano studies at California State University, Los Angeles, recently spoke on Democracy Now! about this “mass expulsion” and how it relates to immigration policy under the Trump administration. Watch the full interview below:

Balderrama first explains how the press was crucial during this period because it vilified individuals of Mexican descent, although he notes that was “also reflecting the larger American society at this time.”

He also shares how cycles of economic hardship throughout American history have often spurred waves of xenophobia and unconstitutional deportations. Now, similar racist and xenophobic ideologies are taking hold in American society today.

Read the rest at Truthdig

Related: Trump Administration Moving Quickly to Build Up Nationwide Deportation Force (Washington Post)

Related: Stephen A. Nuño: The Border, ‘Filth’ and White Nationalism (NBC News)

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!