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Let's Talk About It

The History We Were Not Taught

By Yvette Tello · Jun 18, 2026

Read in the original edition on Issuu

Romana Acosta Bañuelos was deported as a child during the Great Depression, when the United States forced many families of Mexican descent out of the country, including people who were American citizens. She returned to the United States at 18 with almost nothing. No wealth. No connections. No safety net. Like so many Mexican-American families, she worked hard, took what jobs she could find, and refused to let hardship define her future.In East Los Angeles, she started a small tortilla factory called Ramona’s Mexican Food Products.

What began as a small operation grew into a multi-million dollar company with more than 400 employees and 22 products sold across the country. She helped bring Mexican food into mainstream American kitchens. She also co-founded Pan American National Bank in East Los Angeles, helping give the Mexican-American community access to financial services that had long been denied to them. Her work, her vision, and her leadership caught the attention of the nation.

In 1971, President Richard Nixon appointed Romana Acosta Bañuelos as Treasurer of the United States, making her the first Mexican-American woman to ever hold that position. At that time, she became the highest-ranking Mexican-American in the federal government. Think about that. A woman who had once been deported from this country later had her signature printed on the currency of the United States. Mexican-American women have always been builders, trailblazers, and pioneers.

Long before history books made room for them, they were already making history. Why weren’t we taught this in school? Why did so many of us grow up learning only parts of history, while stories like Romana’s were left out? What do you think about this story? Did you know her name before today? Why do you think stories like this were kept from us for so long? Let’s talk about it…

Let's talk about it: what our community said

Printed replies from readers on our page-2 conversation.

  • “Absolutely inspiring! It also speaks well of President Richard Nixon who, despite his psychological paranoia that ultimately brought down his administration and ruined his career, had respect for people of all backgrounds. His record in office, apart from Watergate, looks better and better with each Trump day that passes.”

    Guy Christopher Carter-Jiménez

  • “I'm happy that all these stories are being read on Facebook, they need to be told and shared. Also every story about ethnic people and how they achieved greatness in our country.”

    Grace Cantu-Griffis

  • “This is diabolical what happened to her. What an inspiration for defeating such evil.”

    Susana Madai

  • “My father borrowed money from the Pan American Bank, to start his business in the early 70s. It was a factory that produced taco shells for a major food company. I worked there during the summer after I graduated from high school. That was an amazing time in Los Angeles”

    Kathleen Eisenbeis

  • “Deported at 8 and signing the dollar at 46, Great story indeed, she is truly an amazing woman”

    Eli D. Martinez

  • “Ramona Bañuelos was her signature on dollar bills “.”

    Alvaro Rincon

  • “The same country that was looking for braceros in Mexico!”

    Margarita Torres

  • “A beautiful part of history of a Mexican American woman who did it. I don’t care if she was a Republican or a Democrat, she represented a strong smart business minded Mexican American woman, who did it!”

    Della Crowell

  • “That's right, some of us have that internal party”

    Alexandra Goya Tiffer

  • “Once again, this is a perfect example that no matter what country you are from, with perseverance, and a lot of hard work, you can achieve success in this country. With respect to her deportation, we have to be aware that no system is perfect. There is always a chance that a mistake can be made. Congratulations to this Mexican lady.”

    Cesar Fonseca

  • “A great story and a reminder of the saying ‘si se puede’ “”

    Diana Cano Solis

  • “What bills have her signature?”

    Margie Camacho

  • “What a beautiful story!”

    Ana L. Fernandez Barrios

  • “I’ve seen bills with her beautiful signature on them.”

    Isabel Chacon Estrada

  • “Great success, God bless her. It proves that the USA is the greatest country. In Mexico she would still be making tortillas and paying for protection.”

    Raudel Guerra

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