Labor Appropriation Act of 1924
Between the years of 1924 and 1965, immigration increased and the U.S. witnessed spurts of immigration waves roughly every ten years or so. As a result, anti-immigrant sentiments amplified. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Border Patrol was created mainly to stop the unauthorized entry of Chinese immigrants through Mexico, not to stop Mexican laborers. The U.S. Border Patrol was created in 1924 on May 28th when Congress passed the Labor Appropriation Act of 1924. This officially established the U.S. Border Patrol for the purpose of securing the borders between inspection stations. Sometimes, when Mexican immigrants could not successfully cross the border on their own, they would turn to professional smugglers known as coyotes. Coyotes are oftentimes a dangerous option to take as they have killed immigrants crossing the border or forced them into sex trafficking once the immigrants arrive to the U.S. This still continues to this day. Think back to the introductory page for the historical section: Types of Immigration. The 1920s is when the term “illegal alien” gained a foothold in the U.S.
Interesting Fact: Immigrants that head for Europe use Coyotes, too. However, they are called Jackals.
Continue Reading: World War II and Japanese-American Internment
U.S. Immigration Detention 