On Friday, September 19, 2025, Houston joined a powerful national conversation as American Community Media hosted a briefing with UCLA’s Center for Immigration Law & Policy (CILP) and Million Dollar Hoods. The subject: Mapping Deportations—a first-of-its-kind interactive project that lays bare more than 127 years of U.S. deportation orders (1895–2022).

The conclusion was clear: deportation has never been neutral. More than 96% of deportation orders targeted people from predominantly non-white countries, revealing a deep-rooted pattern that continues to shape America’s present.

The Voices Leading the Discussion

• Dr. Kelly Lytle Hernández — historian, MacArthur Fellow, and founder of Million Dollar Hoods
• Mariah Tso — GIS “rebel cartographer,” the mastermind behind the mapping visuals
• Prof. Ahilan Arulanantham — CILP Co-Director, Supreme Court advocate, and defender of immigrant rights

Together, they gave Houston and the nation a new lens to understand how policy and enforcement have repeatedly drawn the boundaries of belonging.

Five Eras That Tell the Story

Dr. Hernández outlined how deportation history mirrors America’s racial struggles:

• 1790–1875: Roots of Control — Early laws restricting Black migrants and fueling Indigenous removal
• 1876–1929: Whites-Only Regime — Asian exclusion, limits on Black migration, and criminalization of Mexican entry
• 1930–1954: Consolidation — Cold War pressures entrenched the racial order
• 1955–1990: Amend & Enforce — Civil Rights reforms met with rulings like Brignoni-Ponce (1975), allowing race to remain an enforcement factor
• 1991–Present: Deportation Nation — The largest deportation system in the world, with 7 million deportations and 25 million voluntary departures since the 1990s

Why This Matters for Houston

Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the U.S.—our neighborhoods, schools, and small businesses thrive because of immigrant communities. But the Mapping Deportations data underscores what many Houstonians know firsthand:

• Mexico has led deportation orders for 109 consecutive years—a result of discriminatory legal design, not just geography
• Families here live the consequences of outdated, racially biased laws still shaping enforcement today
• Local leaders, educators, and advocates can use these maps as teaching and policy tools to ensure fairer futures

Key Takeaways for Readers

• Patterns are intentional: Laws—not accidents—explain why deportations overwhelmingly target non-white groups
• Beyond deportations: Voluntary departures and expulsions quietly move millions but rarely make headlines
• Journalism with context: The timeline and quote archives give Houston reporters and leaders “receipts” to tell fuller stories
• Community action matters: Knowing your rights, documenting experiences, and relying on trusted local legal aid are critical during enforcement surges

Houston-Ready Resources

Press contacts: Sandy Close (sclose@americancommunitymedia.org), Pilar Marrero (pmarrero@americancommunitymedia.org)

Speakers: hernandez@history.ucla.edu | mtso@bunche.ucla.edu | arulanantham@law.ucla.edu

Community Tip: Before sharing immigration news, confirm updates with credible local organizations—accuracy protects lives

Final Word

Houston Style Magazine readers, Houston’s story is America’s story—diverse, resilient, and shaped by migration. This new research doesn’t just highlight a painful past; it arms us with knowledge to advocate for a just future. Because in Houston, belonging isn’t negotiable—it’s who we are.