For most of American history, it wasn't illegal to cross the US-Mexico border here's how it became a crime

Get the Full StoryIt wasn't always a crime to cross the US-Mexico border without authorization, however, during the 1920s, Congress began adopting "whites only" immigration policies.

This caused some conflict in the Southwest, because many employers relied on Mexican immigrants.

But many employers also believed that Mexicans were racially unfit to be US citizens, and never expected them to permanently settle in the US.

In 1929, Senator Coleman Livingston Blease, suggested a "compromise" to meet both Congress' wishes and employers' demands: a bill that criminalized crossing the border at any other place than a port of entry.

Mexicans who had previously crossed the border freely instead of the ports of entry — where they had been subjected to humiliating processes and high fees because of racial bias — were then prosecuted for crossing elsewhere.

Throughout the 1930s, Mexicans never comprised fewer than 85 of all immigration prisoners.

It was not always a crime to enter the United States without authorization.

In fact, for most of American history, immigrants could enter the United States without official permission and not fear criminal prosecution by the federal government.See the rest of the story at Business InsiderNOW WATCH: How to survive a snake biteSee Also:Sessions cites Bible verse to defend separating immigrant familiesSeveral congressional leaders and John Cusack staged a sit-in in front of the US Customs and Border Protection officesWhy Donald Trump desperately needs interpreters for his 'chat' with KimSEE ALSO: How the Trump administration enacted its lightning-rod 'zero tolerance' policy to separate parents from children at the border

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