In her biweekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.
The phrase, “Mexicans didn’t cross the border, the border crossed them,” encapsulates a profound historical truth about the United States’ territorial expansion and its enduring impact on immigration and Latin American stability. Too often, discussions about immigration policy in the U.S. are framed as if migrants from Mexico and Central America arrive in search of opportunity with no historical context. In reality, the cycles of migration and mass deportation today are deeply tied to America’s own history of conquest, intervention, and economic policies that have shaped the fates of millions.
How the U.S. Acquired Mexican Lands
The U.S. acquisition of nearly half of Mexico’s territory was not a peaceful process – it was one rooted in war, expansionist ideology, and coercion. In the early 19th century, American settlers flooded into Texas, encouraged by the Mexican government to populate the northern frontier. However, tensions soon arose as these settlers, mostly from the South, resisted Mexican laws, particularly those banning slavery. The Texas Revolution (1836) resulted in Texas declaring independence from Mexico, and in 1845, the U.S. annexed Texas, setting the stage for war.
The Mexican American War (1846-1848) – a conflict deliberately provoked by the U. S. – resulted in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, where Mexico was forced to cede vast territories in exchange for a paltry $15 million. This land grab included what are now California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Five years later, in 1853, the Gadsden Purchase added southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, finalizing the U.S.-Mexico border.
For the Mexican communities living in these territories, the border had moved, not them. They went from being Mexican citizens to living under a U.S. government that often treated them as foreigners on their own land.
How U.S. Foreign Policy Destabilized Latin America
Beyond the loss of land, U.S. policies in Latin America have directly fueled the migration crises we see today. From military interventions to economic exploitation, American actions have contributed to the very conditions that push millions to flee their homes.
- Military Interventions and Economic Exploitation
Under the Monroe Doctrine (1823), the U.S. asserted dominance over the Western Hemisphere, often intervening militarily to protect its own interests. The Banana Wars (1898-1934) saw U.S. forces invade multiple Latin American nations to ensure control over resources and trade routes. In Guatemala (1954), the U.S. orchestrated a coup to overthrow democratically elected leader Jacobo Árbenz because his land reforms threatened American corporations like United Fruit Company.
During the Cold War, the U.S. propped up brutal dictatorships across the region under the guise of fighting communism. In Chile (1973), the CIA supported a coup against President Salvador Allende, replacing him with the ruthless Augusto Pinochet. In Nicaragua (1980s), the U.S. funded the Contras, fueling a deadly civil war. In El Salvador, U.S. military aid supported a government accused of massacres and human rights abuses.
- The War on Drugs and Increased Violence
The U.S. War on Drugs militarized Latin America, strengthening corrupt regimes and deepening cycles of violence. In Mexico and Colombia, American funding turned local conflicts into full-scale wars, leading to mass displacement and economic devastation. Entire communities were left without opportunities, fueling waves of migration.
- NAFTA and Economic Displacement
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (1994) further destabilized Mexico. While the deal was touted as a means to boost trade, it flooded Mexico with cheap U.S. agricultural products, decimating small farms and leaving millions unemployed. As a result, many sought work in the U.S., fueling migration.
From Expansion to Deportation
Despite its deep role in creating the conditions that drive Latin American migration, the U.S. has historically responded with mass deportations and harsh immigration policies. From Operation Wetback (1954), which deported over a million Mexican workers, to modern policies separating families at the border, the U.S. has treated Latino migrants as a problem rather than recognizing its own complicity in their displacement.
The history of U.S. expansion and intervention is directly linked to today’s immigration crises. The people crossing the border today are, in many cases, fleeing conditions that the U.S. helped create. A real conversation on immigration reform must acknowledge this history and move beyond punitive measures to address the root causes of migration. Until then, we will continue to repeat the cycle – one where the border crossed people long before they ever crossed it.
The Current State of U.S. Immigration Policy
Today’s immigration policies remain largely focused on deterrence rather than addressing the underlying causes of migration. The construction of border walls, increased militarization of border patrols, and mass deportations do little to curb migration because they fail to address why people leave their homelands in the first place. Instead of criminalizing asylum-seekers and refugees, the U.S. should take responsibility for its historical role in destabilizing the region and work toward policies that promote economic development, political stability, and humanitarian protections.
Policies like the Remain in Mexico program, Title 42 expulsions, and family separations ignore the reality that many migrants are fleeing violence and economic collapse, conditions often exacerbated by American intervention. A humane and effective immigration policy must go beyond border enforcement and include investment in Latin American economies, fair trade agreements that do not exploit local workers, and asylum processes that recognize the U.S.’s moral obligation to those it has displaced.
The border may be a political boundary, but history shows that its effects extend far beyond geography. Until the U.S. reckons with its past, its immigration policies will remain reactionary, failing to address the root causes that drive people to seek a better life elsewhere.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
