Debating American Identity Debating American Identity Southwestern Statehood and Mexican Immigration Linda C. Noel tucson The University of Arizona Press © 2014 The Arizona Board of Regents All rights reserved w ww. uapress. arizona. edu Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data Noel, Linda C., 1966– Debating American identity : Southwestern statehood and Mexican immigration / Linda C. Noel. p ages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8165-3045-8 (cloth : acid-free paper) 1. Mexicans—Arizona—History—20th century. 2. Mexicans—New Mexico— History—20th century. 3. Arizona—Ethnic relations—History—20th century. 4. New Mexico—Ethnic relations—History—20th century. 5. Arizona—Politics and government—To 1950. 6. New Mexico—Politics and government—1848–1950. 7. Ethnicity—Political aspects—Southwest, New—History—20th century. 8. Immigrants—Southwest, New—History—20th century. 9. Southwest, New—Emigration and immigration—History—20th century. 10. Mexico—Emigration and immigration—History—20th century. I. Title. F820.M5N64 2014 305.8009791—dc23 2013034058 Manufactured in the United States of America on acid- free, archival- quality paper containing a minimum of 30% post- consumer waste and pro cessed chlorine free. 19 1 8 1 7 1 6 1 5 1 4 6 5 4 3 2 1 To Larry Contents Acknowledgments ix Note on Terminology xiii Introduction 3 Part I. The Late Territorial Years, 1898–1 912 1. The Closed Door: Exclusion Reigns 23 2. The Door Swings Inward: Pluralism and Marginalization 43 Part II. Transformations: The First World War Era, 1917–1 922 3. Changing Strategies for a New World 67 4. Marginalization Evolves: Image of a Temporary Worker 83 Part III. Immigration Restriction Debates, 1926– 1930 5. Closing the Door? 103 6. Promotion of the Temporary Worker 119 Part IV. Repatriation, 1930– 1935 7. “To Keep America American”: The Door Swings Outward 141 Notes 165 Bibliography 217 Index 239 Ac know ledg ments Ack nowl edgm ents are often written in a rush as the deadline looms for publication, and this one is no different. Or at least that is my excuse for writing ac know ledg ments which may forget important folks who helped along the way and do injustice to my friends, family, and professional con- tacts that deserve much more thought and praise than they are going to receive. Professionally I have received much help. Gary Gerstle got me started with some of my initial questions in his graduate course at the University of Maryl and long ago and has remained a valuable resource; Ira Berlin and David Sicilia asked tough questions that helped me to refi ne my work and have provided ongoing support. Mary Kay Vaughan shared her enthu- siasm of my project and guided me around Mexico City. Barbara Wein- stein provided key support at a critical moment, as did Daryle Williams. University of Colorado professors Ralph Mann, Virginia Anderson, Lee Chambers, and Patricia Limerick welcomed me into the fi eld long before this project began. And it was in Virginia Anderson’s class that I fi rst be- came interested in New Mexico. Laura Muñoz read and commented on an earlier version of one of the chapters. Anonymous reviewers corrected some mistakes and helped to improve the book’s fl ow. Librarians at the various archives I visited also deserve thanks and appreciation, as well as all the staff at the University of Arizona Press who guided me through the publication pro cess. Current and former colleagues (and friends) at Morgan State University have all been very supportive of this project, but especially Frank Brown, ix