Mexican Repatriation - General - Government - CA

Section § 8720

This section of law is called the "Apology Act for the 1930s Mexican Repatriation Program." It acknowledges and addresses past actions involving the forced return of Mexican Americans to Mexico during that era.

This chapter may be cited as the “Apology Act for the 1930s Mexican Repatriation Program.”

Apology Act Mexican Repatriation 1930s deportation ...

Section § 8721

This section highlights a dark chapter in California's history when, starting in 1929, both government and private entities unjustly forced people of Mexican ancestry, including those born in the U.S. and legal residents, out of the country. Approximately 400,000 people in California alone were affected, with about 1.2 million American-born individuals impacted nationwide. These efforts involved large-scale raids and threats of violence, coercing many to leave. Often labeled as "illegal aliens," these targeted individuals suffered property loss and separation from their families and rights. They were deprived of their political and constitutional rights, enduring a denial of due process and equal protection.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Beginning in 1929, government authorities and certain private sector entities in California and throughout the United States undertook an aggressive program to forcibly remove persons of Mexican ancestry from the United States.

(b) In California alone, approximately 400,000 American citizens and legal residents of Mexican ancestry were forced to go to Mexico.

(c) In total, it is estimated that two million people of Mexican ancestry were forcibly relocated to Mexico, approximately 1.2 million of whom had been born in the United States, including the State of California.

(d) Throughout California, massive raids were conducted on Mexican-American communities, resulting in the clandestine removal of thousands of people, many of whom were never able to return to the United States, their country of birth.

(e) These raids also had the effect of coercing thousands of people to leave the country in the face of threats and acts of violence.

(f) These raids targeted persons of Mexican ancestry, with authorities and others indiscriminately characterizing these persons as “illegal aliens” even when they were United States citizens or permanent legal residents.

(g) Authorities in California and other states instituted programs to wrongfully remove persons of Mexican ancestry and secure transportation arrangements with railroads, automobiles, ships, and airlines to effectuate the wholesale removal of persons out of the United States to Mexico.

(h) As a result of these illegal activities, families were forced to abandon, or were defrauded of, personal and real property, which often was sold by local authorities as “payment” for the transportation expenses incurred in their removal from the United States to Mexico.

(i) As a further result of these illegal activities, United States citizens and legal residents were separated from their families and country and were deprived of their livelihood and United States constitutional rights.

(j) As a further result of these illegal activities, United States citizens were deprived of the right to participate in the political process guaranteed to all citizens, thereby resulting in the tragic denial of due process and equal protection of the laws.

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Section § 8722

This section is an official apology from the State of California. It acknowledges that during the 1930s, the state violated the civil rights and constitutional rights of certain people, as noted in a previous part, by illegally deporting them or forcing them to leave the country. California expresses regret for the pain and difficulties these individuals and their families faced due to the actions of the government during the Repatriation Program.

The State of California apologizes to those individuals described in Section 8721 for the fundamental violations of their basic civil liberties and constitutional rights committed during the period of illegal deportation and coerced emigration. The State of California regrets the suffering and hardship those individuals and their families endured as a direct result of the government sponsored Repatriation Program of the 1930s.

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Section § 8723

This law requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to install and maintain a plaque in Los Angeles to commemorate certain individuals mentioned in Section 8721. If no state property is suitable, the department must work with local Los Angeles authorities to find a City or County-owned location for the plaque.

A plaque commemorating the individuals described in Section 8721 shall be installed and maintained by the Department of Parks and Recreation at an appropriate public place in Los Angeles. If the plaque is not located on state property, the department shall consult with the appropriate local jurisdiction to determine a site owned by the City or County of Los Angeles for location of the plaque.

plaque installation Department of Parks and Recreation Los Angeles public place ...