Reparation Fund Set For Depression-Era Mexican Deportations

Sacramento, CA — California could create a reparation fund for the survivors of about 400,000 state residents who were illegally deported to Mexico between 1929 and 1944, under legislation approved by the Senate Tuesday.

The Hoover administration sent about 2 million Hispanics including 400,000 Californians to Mexico to get rid of illegal immigrants and open up jobs.

But Senator Joe Dunn says most of the people deported were American citizens or legal immigrants.

His bill does not include any reparation money until a commission to be set up under the legislation determines who should receive reparations and how much.

The practice targeted anyone with a Mexican-sounding name and continued in California even after the Roosevelt administration cut off funding.