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""The Mexican workers in the US were not guaranteed general access to American schools or medical facilities, and when they had children born while they were in the US, those children were Mexicans, not Americans."

I'm quite sure the author is WRONG on this account. If born in the US, they were citizens, then and now.
"

During the bracero program, women were not permitted in the camps. Very different situation.

During the bracero program, women were not permitted in the camps.

Bingo

What is also unstated is that today over 75% of illegal immigrants are employed in the services industry, not agribusiness.

The services industry tends toward year around, stable employment which leads to the ability to support a family here in the US permanently.

A by product of the transition of Mexican immigrants from field hand to janitor is its effect on organized labor and politics in California. Senator Gilbert Cedillo (D- California Senate) is an excellent example. Cedillo is an anchor baby and past president of the largest, foreign, labor local in the US. The janitorial union local in the LA basin.

"During the bracero program, women were not permitted in the camps."

Kids under 21 aren't allowed permitted to drink; under 18 not permitted to smoke. Marijuana is illegal, too.

Now as to the issue, if a person was/is physically born in the USA they ARE eligible to be a citizen.

Prove me wrong. Where did you live in California in the 50s and 60s? Did you have two camps in your town? I did.

I am NOT saying I support the citizenship of persons born here, to illegal immigrants. But until laws are changed, it is as it is.

I have many friends and associates that are of Mexican ancestry. I don't recall asking a single one of them, if they know with certainty that none of their ancestors was an illegal immigrant.

I don't claim to know about immigration laws, through our history. Under which provisions my Swedish ancestors came in the 1860s, I am totally ignorant.

I presume there were laws of some type, and further assume that not all entrants observed every law. Therefore we may have fervant anti-immigration posters on FR that are descendants of illegal immigrants, themselves!