How Mexican immigration helped make America great

*This piece was written for an Australian audience and does a very good job of explaining the causes and history of Mexican migration to the U.S. It’s a 10 minute read, give or take, or a 28 minute listen for the fully produced radio show (which you can download to listen on your commute or work out). VL

By Annabelle Quinceand Keri Phillips, ABC

Donald Trump has some seemingly simple strategies to stop many Mexicans migrating to the US, but the relationship between the two North American neighbours is a complex one. As Annabelle Quince explains, much of south-west America was once part of Mexico, and without Mexican labour the US agricultural industry would be in trouble.

It’s obvious from the names of some of America’s biggest cities that they have a Spanish-speaking heritage. Settlements like Santa Fe, San Antonio, Los Angeles, and San Diego fall within the swathes of south-west America that were colonised by Spain and were then, for centuries, part of Mexico.

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However, after Mexico’s defeat in the American–Mexico war of 1846–1848 the border shifted almost a thousand miles to the south, as academic Neil Foley from the Southern Methodist University explains.

‘Out of that northern half that was seized after the US–Mexico war … the United States was able to carve out territories that then became six complete states … READ MORE