-
U.S.- Mexico War
The U.S. Mexico war begins, starting a battle over the border. -
Treaty of Guadalupe
The Mexican-American border took shape with the Treaty of Guadalupe, which ended the Mexican-American War. About 45 percent of the land previously known as Mexico became United States territory. -
The Gasden Purchase Treaty
The Gadsden Purchase Treaty is signed. -
First Border Patrol
The first border patrol is established to stop Asian workers from coming into the United States through Mexico. -
The Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution begins and thousands of Mexicans flee across the border for safety. -
Immigration Act
An Immigration Act that mandates a literacy test for immigrants is passed. -
Higher Mexican Immigration Rates
More than 89,000 Mexicans come into the United States on permanent visas, making 1924 the peak year for Mexican immigration. -
Mexican Deportations
The first round of Mexican deportations forcibly sent millions of illegal immigrants back to Mexico. This included between 500,000 and two million U.S. citizens of Latino ancestry. -
Operation Wetback
Operation Wetback takes place. The U.S. Immigration Service deports more than 3.8 million people of Mexican heritage. -
The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965
The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 limits immigrants into the United States. -
The Immigration Act of 1990
The Immigration Act of 1990 increases the number of immigrants allowed into the United
States each year to 700,000. Ten thousand permanent resident visas are offered to those immigrants
agreeing to invest at least $1 million in U.S. urban areas or $500,000 in U.S. rural areas. -
The North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement comes into affect, stimulating trade between the United States and Mexico. Massive increases in border populations occur due to the treaty. -
Bill Clinton Limits Illegal Immigration
Bill Clinton makes strong moves to limit illegal immigration with hopes of getting re-ellected. With his power, U.S. Border Patrols are bolstered, sensors are installed and 40 miles of 14-foot fence is built to deter the flow of illegal immigrants. -
High Illegal Immigrant Rates
Statistics show that 62% of all unauthorized immigrants in the United States were from Mexico. -
SB1070
SB1070 was passed in Arizona which allows law enforcement officials who have not been trained in immigration policy to demand papers from any Arizona residents they deem suspicious.
