Dark time for U.S. Mexicans by Francisco Zerme

Inside Bay Area-Daily Review Online.

MOST PEOPLE now would agree that the Japanese internments during World War II represent a dark chapter in the history of the United States. To a degree, apologies and reparations have mollified these memories, I hope, at least with the majority of our Japanese-American brothers.
Just prior to that, however, there was another dark episode, one that has not received the attention of the internments. It is the Mexican Repatriation, which took place from 1929 to 1944. That was the Depression, the Dust Bowl years, so excellently portrayed in John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath."

Everyone wanted to move to the Western states, especially California. There was plenty of room. There were not, however, enough jobs for the new arrivals. Something had to be done. President Hoover came up with an idea that would create jobs for the new arrivals. It was simple. A train ride for the Mexicans living in the West. All Mexicans. Back to Mexico. Regardless of their resident status. It was enforced by the local authorities.

Now, at that time, illegal migration existed, but it did not cause the upheaval or the Arizonan vigilantism of today. Personally, I accept immigration because the greatness of this country of ours is due, in large part, to it.

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