Russel Sage Foundation

Over the last century, the United States has deported over 56 million people, primarily to Latin American countries. These deportations represent an unrecognized mass migration that has both accelerated and changed in character. While deportees have historically spent decades living in the U.S. before removal, they are now being deported more quickly and are more likely to attempt to reenter the country. Historian Rachel Nolan will work on a book examining the effects of deportations from the U.S. to Latin America from 1954 to the present day. She will focus on three periods of deportation: “Operation Wetback” deportations to Mexico, Drug War related deportations to the Dominican Republic, and the recent deportations of asylum-seekers to Guatemala and El Salvador.