Behind the Bastards Part One: The U.S. Border Patrol Is A Nightmare That Never Ends
Aug 6, 2020
Caitlin Durante, a podcast co-host and commentator on the U.S. Border Patrol, joins to shed light on the complicated and often brutal history of border enforcement. They discuss the agency's roots in the racist 1924 Immigration Act and its legacy of violence and discrimination. Caitlin humorously contrasts the ironies of travel with critical insights into U.S.-Mexican relations. The conversation also highlights the economic exploitation of Mexican labor and the paradox of reliance on immigrant workers amid systemic racism.
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Racist Roots of the 1924 Immigration Act
- The 1924 Immigration Act, based on racist pseudoscience, restricted immigration based on race, favoring "Nordic whites."
- Hitler praised this act, citing it as inspiration for Nazi Germany's racist policies.
Zyklon B Delousing
- In the 1920s and 30s, the U.S. deloused Mexican immigrants with Zyklon B.
- The same pesticide was later used in Nazi extermination camps.
Early Border Patrol Recruitment
- The Border Patrol's hasty establishment led to unqualified recruits, initially using the railway mail clerk exam.
- High turnover and lack of training hindered development of a functional internal culture.
