1. Mexican-Americans in the 20 th Century

2. “Mexican Repatriation” Great Depression (1929-1939): anti-Mexican racism increased due to US unemployment “Mexican Repatriation” was an unofficial policy approved by President Hoover –Immigration and Naturalization Services targeted Mexicans, looking for illegal aliens –Over 500,000 illegal-immigrant Mexicans and Mexican-Americans US citizens returned to Mexico –California, Texas, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan felt the greatest pressure Family from Montana forced to repatriate

3. Bracero Program During WW2, US needed agricultural and industrial labor US had pressured 500,000 Mexicans to leave US during Depression “Bracero” = manual laborer “Guest worker program” from 1942-1964 4.5 Million border crossings for Mexican workers Program guaranteed decent wages, housing, and health care Illegal immigration also increased, as undocumented workers would work for less than guaranteed wages Mexican workers arrive in Los Angeles in 1942

4. César Chávez Born as a US citizen in Yuma, AZ Worked as a migrant farm worker in CA As young adult, began to organize farm workers to vote Founded “National Farm Workers Association” which became “United Farm Workers” Organized strikes by grape and lettuce workers, leading to higher pay Chávez and UFW protested against Bracero Program because it lowered wages of American workers and left migrants unprotected (protesting illegals could easily be deported) Supported amnesty piece of 1986 Immigration Reform Act

5. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 Required employers to determine their employees' immigration status Made it a crime to knowingly hire illegal immigrants Granted amnesty to certain seasonal agricultural illegal immigrants. Granted amnesty to illegal immigrants who entered the United States before January 1, 1982 and had resided in US continuously. Signed by Reagan Around 3 million people received amnesty President Reagan signing the act in 1986

6. Mexican Immigration Today 2008: 1.4 million Mexican immigrants in US Mexicans are 30.1 percent of all US immigrants 10% of all Mexicans live in US Over half of all Mexican immigrants in US are undocumented