Historically, the concept of mass deportation was virtually nonexistent in America until the Great Depression. Initially, immigration laws were lax, allowing a surge of workers to join the economy. However, the economic crisis led to the first mass deportations, notably the 1931 La Placita sweep in Los Angeles, targeting Mexican workers as scapegoats for job shortages. This trend continued under President Eisenhower with Operation Wetback, reflecting deepening racial and economic tensions that shaped immigration policies.
For much of America's history, deporting people—let alone mass deportations—was unheard of, escalating significantly with the onset of the Great Depression in 1929.
The 1931 La Placita sweep marked the first major public immigration raid, targeting 400 Mexican farm workers amid a climate of economic hardship and austerity.
President Hoover's slogan, 'American Jobs for Real Americans,' fueled local legislation that banned the employment of anyone of Mexican descent, leading to widespread deportations.
Operation Wetback under President Eisenhower represented one of the most significant efforts in U.S. history focused on deporting undocumented immigrants, especially Mexicans.
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