a. so that it would not be mistaken for an invasion.
Pershing entered into Mexico to find and capture Pancho Villa for killing Americans. The march into Mexico was not an act against the Mexican government but rather to capture a threat to American safety.
Pancho Villa had battled Carranza for leadership of Mexico after Huerta resigned. The US recognized Carranza as the leader of Mexico and it retaliation Villa attacked US citizens in New Mexico. In retaliation and in an attempt to capture Villa, Pershing led military forces into Mexico. Despite US support of Carranza's government, Carranza saw this as a violation of Mexico's sovereign borders. The Mexican government attacked the US forces, however the US forces recovered and continued into Mexico to search for Villa. The Mexican government insisted US forces leave Mexico and after failed attempts to capture Villa, Pershing and his troops were forced to leave Mexico.
