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May 14, 2025, 1:45 p.m.

Family who lived through 1950s U.S. deportation effort reflects on current climate

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

The Trump administration’s immigration policies have created fear and uncertainty for many communities, including people who lived through an earlier crackdown. Santiago Campos of News Hour's journalism training program, PBS News Student Reporting Labs, talked to his family members about how they view this moment.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

  1. When did the mass deportation reported in this story take place? Who was president at the time?
  2. Who were the people targeted in this mass deportation?
  3. Where did undocumented migrants live, and what were the living conditions like?
  4. Why did those like Marco Santos, who grew up in the years after the mass deportation, still feel like they were under threat despite not experiencing being deported?
  5. What was the process like to cross border patrol checkpoints in the 1980s and 90s?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

  1. Why do you think that the Eisenhower administration deported American citizens along with undocumented immigrants?
  2. What do you know about American citizens being deported under the Trump administration?

Media literacy: What did you think about hearing the perspective of a student reporter and his family? Would you like to see more segments like this?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Watch the video below to learn about the cases of children with U.S citizenship who have been deported along with their mothers.

  1. Why do you think that these mothers were prevented from speaking to their families and attorneys before being deported?
  2. What do you think about Trump's comments saying that the mothers wanted to be deported with their children? Discuss with a classmate.

For a more in-depth look at Trump's immigration policies and other legislation passed during his first 100 days, complete this Daily News Lesson.

Written by Gianfranco Beran and Vic Pasquantonio.

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