In ‘Mexican-American Militancy: An FBI COINTELPRO on Chicanos,’ José Angel Gutiérrez examines the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s secret program aimed at monitoring and disrupting the activities of Mexican-Americans involved in civil rights movements during the 1960s and 1970s. The book provides a detailed account of how surveillance, infiltration, and informants were used to influence activism and create division within the community.

Gutiérrez presents evidence drawn from FBI files, highlighting the extensive monitoring of Chicano leaders and organizations. He explores specific incidents, such as school walkouts and protests, and shows how these efforts affected trust, leadership, and collective action. The book also addresses broader issues of marginalization, including the historical prejudices that framed Mexican-Americans as less American, and situates these events within a context of systemic discrimination. Prominent figures such as César Chávez and groups like the Brown Berets are examined, illustrating their roles in advocating for rights despite government opposition.