Villa Raids Columbus, New Mexico — Only Foreign Attack on US Soil Since 1812

On March 9, 1916, Pancho Villa led approximately 500 Villistas across the US border and attacked Columbus, New Mexico, killing 17 Americans (10 soldiers, 7 civilians) and burning part of the town. Villa's motives are debated: retaliation for US arms embargo, frustration with Carranza-US recognition, or robbery of weapons. The attack prompted President Wilson to send General Pershing's 10,000-man Punitive Expedition into Chihuahua. The expedition never caught Villa and withdrew in 1917, increasing anti-American nationalist sentiment.