Family's Story Reveals the Lasting Scars of 1950s Mass Deportations

The 1950s mass deportation of Mexican immigrants from the United States remains a sensitive topic. A recent PBS News video brings this history to life through the personal story of Santiago Campos, who interviewed his family about their experiences. Campos's grandfather, Daniel, recounts being deported to Mexico with his family, despite his status as a US-born citizen. "They would deport us," Daniel recalls, "and we should have been, we were U.S. citizens. The powers that be were white, so they could basically do just whatever they wanted with us." This personal account illustrates the arbitrary nature of the deportations and the fear instilled in families for generations. Campos's great-grandmother, for example, made a deal with Border Patrol to avoid further deportation. The video also shows the impoverished conditions many deported families faced in unincorporated communities near the border. Campos's father, Marco, describes growing up in a one-room shack built from discarded political campaign billboards. The video concludes by emphasizing the lasting impact of these policies on families like Campos's, urging reflection on the potential consequences of similar policies today. The video serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of mass deportation and the need for compassionate immigration policies.