Posted on 05/15/2005 7:15:20 PM PDT by calcowgirl
SACRAMENTO - An Orange County lawmaker is trying again to make amends for a shocking but little known episode in American history - one he discovered because he wanted a book to read on a cross-country flight.
"Decade of Betrayal" tells the story of the deportation of about 2 million Hispanics, including 400,000 Californians, to Mexico between 1929 and 1944. An aide gave it to state Sen. Joe Dunn, D-Garden Grove, about four years ago and he grabbed it to read on a trip to the East Coast.
"I was blown away by it," he said in a recent interview. "It was a chapter of American history that I'd never ever heard a thing about. I was shocked to read about it."
The program was started by the Hoover administration, supposedly as a way to get rid of illegal immigrants and open up jobs during the Depression. But the overwhelming majority of the people shipped to Mexico were American citizens or legal immigrants, Dunn said.
Some were able to return because they were drafted to fight for the United States in World War II.
A number of states, including California, continued the deportations even after the Roosevelt administration cut off funding for them, Dunn said. Los Angeles County was particularly active, with county supervisors overriding legality concerns raised by the county counsel.
"Anybody that had a Mexican sounding name was literally taken from their beds and shipped to Mexico," Dunn said.
Dunn responded with bills to give the victims of the deportation a new opportunity to file lawsuits seeking damages and to set up a state commission to recommend how to redress the wrongs suffered by the deportees.
Former Gov. Gray Davis vetoed the lawsuit bill in 2003 shortly before he was forced from office by a recall election. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger turned down the commission legislation last year.
This year Dunn has introduced a bill that would create the redress commission, a window for lawsuits and a fund to pay reparations to surviving deportees who file claims. It would take separate legislation, however, to put money in that account.
He's also introduced a second bill that would express a state apology for the episode and require placement of a plaque commemorating the deportees.
Dunn said he separated the proposals into two bills because he's convinced Schwarzenegger will veto the reparations measure, and he wants the state to take at least a symbolic step while some of the California deportees are still alive.
"At the very least the state ought to, before the last survivor passes away, formally apologize for its role in the deportation of U.S. citizens for one reason - they were of Mexican decent," he said.
Schwarzenegger hasn't taken a position on either bill, his office said.
The apology bill is scheduled to be considered Monday by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The reparations bill is awaiting a hearing in the same committee.
SB 670 - Dunn * Mexican repatriation program of the 1930s. BILL NUMBER: SB 670 - INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Dunn FEBRUARY 22, 2005 An act relating to Mexican repatriation. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 670, as introduced, Dunn. Mexican repatriation program of the 1930s. This bill would enact the "Apology Act for the 1930s Mexican Repatriation Program" and make findings and declarations regarding the unconstitutional removal and coerced emigration of United States citizens and legal residents of Mexican descent, between the years 1929 and 1944, to Mexico from the United States during the 1930s "Mexican Repatriation" Program. The bill would express the apology of the State of California to those individuals who were illegally deported and coerced into emigrating to Mexico and would require that a plaque be placed and maintained in a public place to commemorate this event. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
My respect for Herbert Hoover has just increased 20 fold.
SB 645 - Dunn * Mexican repatriation: commission. BILL NUMBER: SB 645 - AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 4, 2005 INTRODUCED BY Senator Dunn FEBRUARY 22, 2005 An act to add Section 354.9 to the Code of Civil Procedure, and to add Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 8253) to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to Mexican repatriation. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 645, as amended, Dunn. Mexican repatriation: commission. (1) Existing law establishes various advisory boards and commissions in state government with specified duties and responsibilities. This bill would, until January 1, 2008, create the commission on the Unconstitutional Deportation of American Citizens during the 1930's within state government. The bill would require the commission to, among other things, gather facts regarding, and conduct a study of, the unconstitutional removal and coerced emigration of United States citizens and legal residents of Mexican descent, between 1929 and 1944, to Mexico during the 1930's "Repatriation" Program. (snip)
Anybody know of any documentation to support this claim?
The truth is that at area 51 we have a time machine that was left by aliens. Bush used it and went back in time and told Hoover to do this.
Mine as well.
UNREGISTERED MEXICANS SAFE; They Will Not Be Deported, Federal Official Says Terms Vincent-Copeland Measure Explained Provisions of Act Not in Any Way Compulsory Los Angeles Times, Jul 5, 1929. p. A5 (1 page) Due to a misunderstanding of the intent and application of the Vincent-Copeland Act regarding the registration of aliens there has been considerable unrest among Mexican laborers in Southern California during the past few weeks, according to the agricultural deparment of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Unfounded rumor, together with inaccurate statements in the Mexican press, have given the impression that aliens who did not register with the Immigration Service prior to July 1 would be deported. As a result there has been some migration of Mexican laborers from centers of greatest need at this time. (snip)
Here is a sympathetic story from the leftist Detroit Metro Times
http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=6549
Thrown out
The Depression-era deportation of thousands of Mexicans still resonates in Detroit and beyond
by Tom Schram
7/28/2004
---
Here is a website of the activists, claiming that 60% of those deported were U.S. Citizens.
http://www.losrepatriados.org/
The Story of Los Repatriados
Makes you almost yearn for the "good old days",doesn't it?
... that would create the redress commission, a window for lawsuits and a fund to pay reparations to surviving deportees who file claims. It would take separate legislation, however, to put money in that account...
-----
These leftists will DO ANYTHING for a vote -- including the continuing process of THROWING YOUR TAX DOLLARS AWAY. This is as maniacal and stupid as those idiots in our own Congress that were trying to extort the taxpayers to pay reparations TO PEOPLE WHO WERE NEVER SLAVES!!!!
Liberalism is truly a MENTAL DISORDER...
I assume that whatever you're smoking was grown in Mexico.
Apparently Senator Dunn based his action on a book:
--Decade of Betrayal: Mexican Repatriation in the 1930s
--by Francisco E. Balderrama, Raymond Rodriguez
The book reviews at Amazon are telling!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0826315755/
ERacism, September 16, 2003
Reviewer: A reader
I read the review by Michael Sturdevant and think he is probably a racists. I have took classes with Dr. Balderrama and can tell you he is a excellent teacher. He teaches his Chicano students about victimology and how they are victims of white America. This is very true. Some teachers think that Chicanos are struggling to get ahead because they are not as educated as white people. But Balderrama teached us that it is because we are victims that we can't make enough as the white people.
That is why Balderrama is suing the US government. Then the Chicano people will have billions of dollars to share with him. And we don't need to get more education. Just more money. I believe in Balderrama, I believe in victimology, and I only wish all Chicanos believed in victimology, then we would all be as rich as the white people.
No, I don't agree that there should be any apology. I am reading articles that do not support this warped look at history. I support sending Senator Dunn and our other "esteemed" California Legislators a letter stating that acknowledging this kind of propaganda is outrageous and that the bills should be rescinded! I also support whoever is going to campaign against Dunn in the next election!
The book is advertised on most of the good Communist sympathizing websites like AFSC, Maldef, etc. No apologies, no reparations and no more propaganda!
You support the deportation of American citizens based on race?
I am SO SICK of the white liberals wallowing in guilt over historical things that are probably made up in the first place. Just get on with it.
No way, NO apologies. Victims indeed!!! Life is tough, suck it in and get over it.
I'm guessing it's based on US citizenship status, or lack thereof.
ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.