But when the stock market crashed in 1929, nativist feelings began to surge to the forefront. Racist ideas took hold and Mexicans were forcibly rounded up and deported back to their country to “free up” opportunities for those who had been born here. A half million to two million Mexicans were sent back south of the border. Most of those who were rounded up were actually naturalized American citizens, and some had even been born in this country. They were all deported to Mexico, without regard to their citizenship status.
