The Raging Controversy at the Border Began With This Incident 100 Years Ago
In Nogales, Arizona, the United States and Mexico agreed to build walls separating their countries
By Rachel St. John
July 2018
In early August 1918, Felix B. Peñaloza, the presidente municipal, or mayor, of Nogales, Mexico, ordered construction of a fence running along the boundary line between his city and Nogales, Arizona. The fence would consist of six wires strung to a height of six feet. His intent was to direct the flow of people crossing the border through two gateways, to make it easier for a growing number of soldiers, customs agents and other officials to oversee transborder movement. Peñaloza also met with U.S. representatives to discuss a second, parallel fence, to be built by the Americans. Mexican officials said they “would welcome the building of such a fence by the United States Government, as it would aid officials on both sides of the line in enforcing their regulations,†and they insisted that “such action would not be irritating or offensive to Mexican sentiment.â€
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https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/raging-controversy-border-began-100-years-ago-180969343/#QKlhKFXTPJfVdj3Y.99
