Mexican immigration to the United States dates back to the early 1900’s with the comencement of the Mexican Revolution. It was then that war refugees and political exiles began to migrate to the US. As more and more people began to shift their lives to America, the people back home realized that it was a real opportunity for them. As word got out masses of people from Mexico began to migrate to the States. It began as men moving to enjoy the newly flourishing agriculture and mining industries in the southern US. They gained employment and sent money home to their families in hope to one day move them to the United States to be reunited once again. They were able to freely move across the border as Mexico had essentially zero border restrictions for their residents. This quickly changed as they realized the masses of people heading to the US. The journey across the border after these new laws were passed became a grueling one. Legal immigrants did not have too much of an issue getting across but the unauthorized or illegal immigrants had some serious issues. Families would be separated, people would be mugged or even killed by gangs along the border. It was a very difficult journey  and even those who made it still struggled significantly in the US.

About the author:

Ethan Murphy is a First-Year student at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He plays on the golf team and intends of majoring in Mathematical Economics and graduating in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in science. He is a member of the Economics club and is currently enrolled in a First-Year Seminar titled Migration: Now and Then. He has become intrigued in the migration of people of all backgrounds and he completed this project in order to further his understanding of the migration of Mexican people to the United States.