Battle of Ambos Nogales led to the first fence separating Mexico and US

Americas Now

A century ago there was no border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. But that changed in 1918 with the Battle of Ambos Nogales.

As the United States fought Germany in Europe during the First World War, another battle took place at the same time at home. It happened on the U.S. southern border with Mexico in the twin border towns of Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora. A fight between American and Mexican soldiers and citizens became known as the Battle of Ambos Nogales or “both” Nogales’.

It’s significant because it led to the first fence separating the U.S. and Mexico. To this day, Mexicans honor those who died in the battle. While few U.S. citizens are aware it even happened.

Americas Now Correspondent Mike Kirsch traveled to the border towns to remember the Battle of Ambos Nogales.

In addition to World War I, another major war was taking place during the Battle of August 27th. The Mexican Revolution–it started in 1910 and lasted over a decade. More than 900,000 people lost their lives.