Member-only story
My ancestors immigrated illegally— to Mexico
Let me tell you a story about some illegal immigrants who ventured to a foreign land in search of opportunity but refused to assimilate. They were of a foreign culture and religion. Never did they learn the native tongue or adopt the local customs. They poured across the border until they eventually outnumbered native citizens of the state more than 3-to-1. A dangerous bunch, they brought with them all sorts of illegal military-grade weapons—and even engaged in criminal activity. When the authorities tried to stop them, they responded with violence. In one year alone they killed more than a thousand government agents who were just trying to enforce the law of the land.
I’m talking, of course, about Texans.
In the first half of the 19th century, some 30,000 American citizens migrated to the Mexican state of Cohuilo y Tejas. While some were granted land by the government, the vast majority migrated illegally—either as squatters during the Mexican War of Independence or after restrictions were placed on immigration.
The General Colonization Law was passed in 1824 with the hope that Mexico would reap dividends from developing the sparsely populated territory. Its population devastated from the war with Spain, Mexico sought colonists from other countries. The plan was criticized by those who argued that settlers wouldn’t…
