Crime, Kids, and a Panic on the Border

This thesis explores the reactions of conservative parents and politicians to juvenile delinquency during the Cold War in San Diego. Through an exploration of media reports, police records, and constituent letters, emerges the realization that youth crime was understood through Cold War era fears of the border and Mexico. This paranoia would drive a small but determined group of parents and politicians to advocate a radical solution to juvenile delinquency. To stop drug use and other teen crime, they would push for the closure of the U.S Mexico border to all minors. The story of youth crime and border closure in San Diego represents a departure from the usual narrative about concerns for youth during the Cold War. This thesis introduces the lens of border history to demonstrate the nuances of local identity in confronted a perceived moral threat.