ABSTRACT
The foundation stones of Mexico's naturalization policy were laid in the nineteenth century; subsequently, the 1910 Revolution generated a climate of mistrust toward foreigners and brought about substantial changes in ideas about nationality and how it could be acquired, as well as about the granting of citizen rights. The Constituent Assembly began to debate these issues in 1917 and discussions continued for almost two decades. Through an analysis of these deliberations, this chapter explores the underlying political aspects of the legal and administrative framework of foreigners’ naturalization. The text provides insights into the complexities of foreigners’ applications for Mexican nationality and explains how the restrictions on naturalization derived from a desire to defend national sovereignty rather than as a policy designed to embrace foreigners as part of the national community.
