Chapter 6 Perseverance, Achieving American Dreams
Introduction: Isidro Ortiz, Ph.D. San Diego State Professor of Chicana/o Studies
With: Maria Nieto Senour – Ph.D., SDSU Emeritus Dept of Psychology Maria Velasquez – Emmy Award-winning Television Journalist (Retired)
L
abor trial lawyer Arcelia Magaña’s family legacy is tied to a historical event that allowed her undocumented Mexican parents to become legal residents under the 1986 amnesty program, the Immigration Reform Control Act (IRCA).
Close to 2.7 million successfully applied after proving they had Lived in the U.S. before January 1982.
“Earnings from their hard work resulted in their dreams of owning a home of their own ...” – Arcelia Magna
in 1980, the U.S. Census began describing this growing national population as “Hispanics.”
This population growth mirrors what happened in California and the San Diego region, which was driven by high birth rates and immigration from Mexico and Latin American countries, most notably from 1990–2000. Many settled in the San Diego area “seeking to escape poverty and hoping to exchange hard work for a chance to get ahead,” according to the book, “The Ties that Bind Us: Mexican Migrants in San Diego County.”
(Photo courtesy Latino Legacy Foundation)
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San Diego Latino Legacy – Timeline • Milestones • Stories
Chapter 6 – Perseverance
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