Chinese Diaspora in New Mexico and the Borderlands
Becoming more visible in the mid 1800s, many Chinese immigrants came to the United States in search of economic opportunity. Some immigrated to California in search of fortune, but as the supply of gold to be found there declined they sought other jobs, with many famously working on construction of the railroads being built to connect the vast distances across the continental United States. As the railroad coming from the West coast moved East, so did these Chinese workers, bringing many to New Mexico and Texas where they remained after the completion of the railroads. Other people of Chinese ancestry entered the United States via the Mexican border, also building their lives in the Borderlands region. Despite facing resistance from their non-Chinese neighbors and laws restricting further immigration, their rights to become citizens, and their rights to own land, they became important members of their communities, often running businesses such as restaurants, hotels, laundries, and general stores. Chinese Americans would sometimes also create their own communities in the form of Chinatowns, such as that which used to be in El Paso, Texas. Part 1 of this unit explores the lives of Chinese Americans in rural New Mexico. Part 2 of this unit teaches about the resilience of Chinese immigrants in the face of discriminatory laws and anti-Chinese sentiment as well as their impact on the Borderlands region and immigration law.