Sacramento, CA – In a significant move to confront California’s painful past involvement in the Mexican Repatriation of the 1930s, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 537 (SB 537) authored by Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park). This action represents a pivotal moment to secure justice and recognition for a dark chapter in American history.
SB 537 calls for a state commemoration in the form of a statue or other appropriate memorialization of the Mexican Repatriation of the 1930s—a period of forced deportations and injustices that devastated hundreds of thousands of Mexican and Mexican-American families and left a lasting scar on the community that continues to this day. It is the only occurrence of a forced deportation of citizens and non-citizens based on race and implemented through Presidential orders.
With the 95th anniversary of the beginning of the forced repatriation - and the 20th anniversary of the passage of SB 670, California’s official apology - Senators Gonzalez and Becker have called for state of California to formally recognize the Mexican Repatriation with a statue or other memorial to shed light on the injustices suffered and ensuring such a historical travesty is never forgotten. SB 537 accomplishes the following:
- Immediate Historical Acknowledgement: Provide a formal and unequivocal recognition of the Mexican Repatriation, acknowledging the profound injustices inflicted upon Mexican-American communities.
- Educational Transformation: Raise awareness of this critical history to ensure future generations understand the full scope of its impact.
- Community Healing and Justice: Honor the legacy of those affected and support the healing process.
“I commend the Governor for taking this necessary step towards righting this injustice and shedding light on this dark chapter of history,” said Becker. It is more critical now that we acknowledge the Mexican Repatriation with a proper memorial that will honor the legacy of those affected and raise awareness to ensure future generations are not condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past.”
“As a Latina, and daughter of a Mexican immigrant, this memorial holds profound significance,” said Majority Leader Gonzalez. “Families like mine—Mexican and Mexican American—endured the pain of harmful, divisive rhetoric that unjustly led to forced deportations and uprooted so many lives. By raising awareness, we can deepen our collective understanding of this painful part of our history and open doors for learning and healing. That is why recognizing the Mexican Repatriation of the 1930s is a vital step in ensuring these injustices are never repeated. I am thankful to Governor Newsom for signing this bill into law, to joint-author Senator Becker for his partnership, to my Senate and Assembly colleagues for their support, and to the community groups and strong voices like the young student Tamara Gisiger, who helped make this memorial a reality.”
SB 537 takes effect on January 1, 2025, at which point a non-profit, public benefit corporation (501(c)(3)) will be formed to be responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the statue with consultation from the State of California and the public.