plied to Mexican immigrants. If the Immigration Act of 1924 was applied to Mexicans, there would have been practically no Mexicans allowed into the United States due to fact that the vast majority of Mexicans are of the “Mestizo” type, that is half Indian and half Spanish. Why then, would a measure like this be passed but not implemented on the Southern border? The answer is quite simple; farmers and factory owners relied heavily on Mexican workers for their respective businesses and politicians also sided with pro-immigration groups regarding the new legislation but due to diplomatic reasons.During the 1920’s, employers of Mexican workers pleaded for an open-door policy due to the fact that Mexican labor was responsible for much productivity in Southwestern agriculture. Businesses that relied on Mexicans also put up much effort to promote a favorable image of Mexican immigrants by arguing that Mexicans were docile and of no threat to the American way of life (Cardoso 124). Railroads also claimed that they would be forced to shut down if they did not have Mexican workers. In another instance the Arizona Cotton Growers Association asked for the Government’s assistance in acquiring Mexican laborers because they argued that without them, cotton production would falter. The Federal Government agreed and allowed the association to send a recruiter to Mexico and the cotton growers even volunteered to pay the head tax of $8.00(Cardoso 130). Even politicians sought to gain much out of not enforcing the Immigration Act of 1924 on Mexicans. Republicans led by Herbert Hoover were looking at the larger picture when deciding not to apply the laws on Mexicans. This larger picture was expanding trade and other economic relations with all of Latin America by using an open-door policy as an example of goodwill. As the twenties came to a close, so did the open door at the border as recession drew near.The Great Depressi...
