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New Mexico is settled by the Spanish
This makes it the largest and oldest Spanish settlement in the Southwest. -
Mexico and the United States go to war over disputed territory.
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"Temporary" workers are permitted to work.
"Temporary" Mexican workers are encouraged and permitted to enter the United States to work. -
Congress passes the Immigration Act of 1917
This enforces a literacy requirement on all immigrants. -
Limits on the number of immigrants allowed in the United States are imposed for the first time in the country's history.
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The "Border Patrol" is created by Congress.
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The United States government begins to deport Mexicans.
Between 300,000 and 500,000 Mexican Americans would be forced out of the United States in the 1930s. -
Establish a new Mexican American movement: the American GI Forum.
Dr. Hector Garcia, a witness to racial injustice, begins holding meetings for Mexican Americans to voice their concerns, and in March they establish a new Mexican American movement: the American GI Forum. -
Hernandez v. The State of Texas
In the case Hernandez v. The State of Texas, the Supreme Court recognizes that Latinos are suffering inequality and profound discrimination, paving the way for Hispanic Americans to use legal means to fight for their equality. This is the first Supreme Court case briefed and argued by Mexican American attorneys. -
resident Johnson appoints more Mexican Americans to positions in government than any president before
President Johnson appoints more Mexican Americans to positions in government than any president before; he passes landmark legislation advocating desegregation. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Congress passes the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The act establishes affirmative action programs, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender, creed, race, or ethnic background. -
Equal Educational Opportunity Act
Congress passes the Equal Educational Opportunity Act to create equality in public schools by offering bilingual education to Hispanic students. -
Hispanics are pronounced the nation's largest minority group
Surpassing African Americans. -
"Minutemen" volunteers came together to patrol borders.
Anti-immigrant sentiment reaches a tipping point when Arizonans organize a group of volunteers known as "The Minutemen" to patrol the border. The Minutemen began patrolling the border. They report unauthorized border crossings or other illegal activity to the U.S. Border Patrol. -
SB 1070 was created by Arizona Govenor Jan Brewer
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signs the broadest and toughest anti–illegal immigrant law in U.S. history. The legislation, SB-1070, cracks down on anyone harboring or hiring undocumented immigrants and gives local police unprecedented powers. -
Hispanics make up about one-sixth of the U.S. population
Hispanics make up about one-sixth of the U.S. population—nearly 51 million people. By the middle of the century, the Latino population is expected to reach 127 million—nearly 30 percent of the projected population of the country.
