Fear, Division, and Deportation in American History
Fear, Division, and Deportation in American History David Buie College History Professor | Historian of Reconstruction, Memory & American Conflict | Dual Credit & Higher Education Instructor | Writer | Curriculum developer December 28, 2025 Periods of crisis often push societies to search for simple answers to complex problems. During the Great Depression, the United States faced widespread unemployment, fear, and economic collapse. In response, the federal government and local authorities carried out mass deportation campaigns that targeted Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans, many of whom were citizens. These actions were justified as economic necessity, but they were rooted in fear and scapegoating rather than evidence.¹ Psychology helps explain why this happened. In times of stress, people often divide the world into “us” and “them.” This mindset makes it easier to blame outsiders for hardships that have deeper causes, such as structural economic failure. Once la...