Something changed in the 1990's.
What "changed" in the 90s is the result of Reagan's amnesty became noticeable.
These were nice people, they did not take government services.
Yes they were taking government services. The Plyler v Doe Supreme Court Case decided in favor of illegals was in 1982.
None that I personally knew of had the benefit of government services prior to the Clintoon administration. The virulent Latino movement was actually Cholo and Chola’s born here and they hated the ranchero’s (read “hicks”) from Mexico and did not identify with them at all.