Immigration U.S. and Arizona History

By rchavez5516

  • 1848 – Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

    Arizona becomes U.S. territory, granting citizenship to many former Mexican residents.

  • 1854 – Gadsden Purchase

    The U.S. acquires southern Arizona from Mexico, further increasing Arizona’s Mexican heritage and population.

  • 1910–1930 – Mexican Revolution Migration

    Thousands of Mexicans flee violence and settle in Arizona, shaping its demographics.

  • 1924 – Border Patrol Established

    The U.S. Border Patrol is created, with significant operations focused along the Arizona-Mexico border.

  • 1942–1964 – Bracero Program

    Mexican laborers come to Arizona as temporary farm workers, impacting the state’s agriculture and labor force.

  • 1954 – Operation Wetback

    Large-scale federal deportations of undocumented Mexican immigrants include many in Arizona.

  • 1976 – Refugee Resettlement

    Arizona becomes a resettlement site for Southeast Asian refugees after the Vietnam War.

  • 1980s – Central American Refugee Influx

    Arizona sees increased migration and asylum claims from Central Americans fleeing violence.

  • 1986 – Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA)

    Many Arizona immigrants gain legal status through federal amnesty provisions.

  • 1994 – NAFTA and Border Crossing Surge

    Economic changes increase migration through Arizona’s border areas.

  • 2004 – Proposition 200

    Arizona voters require proof of citizenship for voting and public benefits, directly affecting immigrants.

  • 2006 – Construction of Border Fencing

    Arizona sees new sections of border wall/fencing, changing migration patterns.

  • 2010 – SB 1070 Signed Into Law

    Arizona passes one of the strictest state anti-illegal immigration laws in the country.

  • 2012 – Supreme Court Ruling on SB 1070

    The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down parts of SB 1070, but upholds the "show me your papers" provision.

  • 2020s – Humanitarian Crisis and Border Policy Debates

    Arizona remains at the center of national debates on asylum, border security, and migrant humanitarian aid, with ongoing controversies over enforcement and treatment of migrants.