parallels to what we see today especially the loaded use of rhetoric that might seem benign but that has deep roots in history of racial violence and keep roots of u nen na sis thinking that shaped immigration policies. explain that be. in the early 20th century, between 1910 and 1920, hundreds of mexican-americans and mexican nationals were murdered by texas rangers by local law enforcement and by the vigilantes. this was a period of violence called for and inspired by the rhetoric of politicians and local residents who profiled mexicans as bandits as rapists and thieves and as a threat to americans. so there was rhetoric of bandits cross the mexican border into the united states to toirds americans and that was largely justified bid the press and politicians and law enforcement