30 Rare Vintage Photographs That Show What the Texas-Mexico Border Looked Like in the Late 1930s

Mexicans entering the United States. United States immigration station, El Paso, Texas, June 1938.
Shoppers returning from Mexico (Juarez) to the United States (El Paso) over the bridge which carries all the traffic are required to open their packages for inspection, June 1937.
Plant quarantine inspectors examining packages brought over the bridge between Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas.
Inspecting a freight train from Mexico for smuggled immigrants. El Paso, Texas, June 1938.
Mexicans entering the United States. United States immigration station, El Paso, Texas, June 1938.
Tourists traveling in trailers talking in camp, McAllen, Texas, February 1939.
Two-wheeled trailer with kitchen cabinet fitted on the end. Harlingen, Texas migrant camp.
Twelve-year-old girl who keeps house in a trailer for her three brothers who are migrant workers, near Harlingen, Texas, February 1939.
Tent home of white migrant from Arizona, near Harlingen, Texas
Tent home of migrants near Harlingen, Texas.
Son of migrant worker near Harlingen, Texas, February 1939.
A child of migrant in her playhouse. Near Harlingen, Texas.
Migrant worker sawing wood for stakes to be used in setting up tent home, near Harlingen, Texas.
Truck home of traveler with plates from cities he has visited. Harlingen, Texas.
Mexican labor contractor in center with two carrot workers eating “second breakfast” near Santa Maria, Texas.
Mexican carrot worker, Edinburg, Texas, February 1939.
Mexican girl, carrot workers, Edinburg, Texas, February 1939.
Migrant worker from Arizona near Harlingen, Texas.
Child of migrant climbing fence with pail of water near Harlingen, Texas.
Girl with baby sister in front of hut near Santa Maria, Texas, February 1939.
Group of Mexican laborers getting straw for tying carrots near Santa Maria, Texas, February 1939.
Mexican carrot workers around labor contractor’s truck in field near Santa Maria, Texas, February 1939.
Migrant father and daughter near Harlingen, Texas, February 1939.
Detail of kitchen cabinet on trailer of white migrant near Harlingen, Texas, February 1939.
Ice for sale. Harlingen, Texas, February 1939.
Mexican day laborer’s hut near Santa Maria, Texas, February 1939.
Migrant worker and wife repairing clutch in their car near Harlingen, Texas, February 1939.
Mexican citrus workers near Weslaco, Texas, February 1939.
Loading platform of vegetable packinghouse at Elsa, Texas, February 1939.
Packing cabbages into crates, Alamo, Texas, February 1939.

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