How crossing the US-Mexico border became a crime
- Written by Kelly Lytle Hernandez, Associate Professor, History and African-American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles
It was not always a crime to enter the United States without authorization.
In fact, for most of American history, immigrants could enter the United States without official permission and not fear criminal prosecution by the federal government.
That changed in 1929. On its surface, Congress’ new prohibitions on informal border crossings...