The Largest Mass Deportation in American History
"Bad Things Are Gonna Happen"
On Thursday, July 18, at the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump made a bunch of false claims: that the country has had the worst inflation ever under the Biden administration (it hasn’t); that Democrats used the Covid-19 pandemic to cheat during the last presidential election (they didn’t) — you get the picture.
He also made a promise — one that I believe he fully intends to keep, should he win — a massive deportation plan:
“Bad things are gonna happen, and you’re gonna see it happen all the time. And that’s why the Republican platform promises to launch the biggest deportation operation in the history of our country. Even larger than that of Dwight D. Eisenhower, from many years ago.”
Under that 1954 program, the racist-named Operation Wetback, U.S. authorities packed around 1.3 million Mexican immigrants, some of whom had been naturalized, into trucks and hauled them off to locations without food and water, resulting in many unnecessary deaths.
Operation Wetback is the largest mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in U.S. history, and yet I’m willing to bet that many Americans haven’t even heard of it, which is why I’m writing about it in this edition of POP ‘N’ PIZZA. Like The Enabling Act of 1933, this is Trump attempting to repeat the worst parts of history.
Historical Context
In the aftermath of World War II, the United States experienced significant economic growth, which led to an increased demand for labor, particularly in agriculture.
To address labor shortages, the U.S. government initiated the Bracero Program in 1942, allowing temporary work visas for Mexican laborers. While the program was intended to regulate and control the influx of workers, it also contributed to a rise in undocumented immigration as many Mexicans crossed the border illegally in search of better economic opportunities.
By the early 1950s, the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. had surged. Estimates suggested that over one million undocumented Mexican immigrants were residing in the country, causing growing concerns among policymakers and the public about job competition and national security.
The Birth of Operation Wetback
In response to these concerns, the U.S. government launched Operation Wetback in 1954. The operation was spearheaded by then-Director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Joseph Swing, under the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The term "Wetback" was a derogatory term used to describe Mexican immigrants who crossed the Rio Grande River to enter the United States illegally.
The primary objective of Operation Wetback was to locate, apprehend, and deport undocumented Mexican immigrants. The operation was characterized by its extensive and often aggressive enforcement tactics. Immigration agents, supported by local law enforcement, conducted raids in Mexican-American neighborhoods, agricultural fields, and workplaces across the southwestern United States.
Execution and Scale
The scale of Operation Wetback was unprecedented. Over the course of the operation, which lasted from 1954 to 1955, it is estimated that 1.3 million individuals were deported. The operation targeted both undocumented immigrants and, controversially, many legal Mexican-American citizens who were often swept up in the raids due to racial profiling and lack of proper documentation.
One of the most infamous aspects of the operation was the use of harsh and inhumane deportation methods. Many deportees were transported in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, leading to reports of abuse and neglect. Additionally, deportees were often sent to remote areas in Mexico, far from their homes, leaving them stranded and without resources.
Impact and Consequences
Operation Wetback had profound and lasting impacts on both the Mexican-American community and U.S. immigration policy. For many Mexican Americans, the operation instilled a deep sense of fear and mistrust toward law enforcement and the government. Families were torn apart, and communities were disrupted as individuals were deported without due process.
The operation also highlighted the complex and often contradictory nature of U.S. immigration policy. While the Bracero Program continued to bring in temporary Mexican laborers, Operation Wetback sought to expel undocumented immigrants, creating a cycle of dependency on Mexican labor while simultaneously criminalizing and dehumanizing the very individuals who fulfilled that labor demand.
Lessons for Today
Understanding Operation Wetback is crucial for addressing contemporary debates on immigration. The operation serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of aggressive and racially motivated immigration enforcement policies. It encourages critical thinking about the ethical implications of deportation policies, the human rights of immigrants, and the socio-economic factors driving migration.
Moving Forward
To avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, it is essential to advocate for immigration policies that are rooted in fairness, compassion, and respect for human dignity. This includes:
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Develop policies that provide pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, protect the rights of all workers, and address the root causes of migration.
Ending Racial Profiling: Implementing measures to prevent racial profiling and ensure that enforcement actions do not disproportionately target specific communities.
Protecting Human Rights: Ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their immigration status, are treated with dignity and respect and have access to due process.
Operation Wetback remains a sobering chapter in American history, offering valuable lessons for shaping a more just and humane immigration system. By learning from the past, we can work towards a future where the contributions of immigrants are recognized and celebrated — where the principles of equality and justice are upheld for all.