The Bracero Program
What did the Senate do?
approved an extension that required U.S. workers to receive the same non-wage benefits as braceros
The illegal workers who came over to the states at the initial start of the program....
felt the need to extend their stay in the U.S well after their labor contracts were terminated
What happened in 1963?
the House of Representatives rejected an extension of the program
To address the overwhelming amount of undocumented migrants in the U.S....
the Immigration and Naturalization Service launched Operation Wetback in June 1954
In 1964....
the bracero program saw its demise
Congress approved a bill that made....
the harboring of an illegal immigrant a felony
Bracero Program - El programa Bracero
Allowed Mexican laborers to work in the United States under short-term contracts in exchange for stricter border security and the return of illegal Mexican immigrants to Mexico.
When was the bracero program initiated?
August 4, 1942
The extreme labor shortage during World War II
Forced the United States into changing its immigration policy, resulting in development of the bracero program in conjunction with Mexico.
How did this program benefit American growers?
Guaranteed them an opportunity to grow and harvest their crops and place them on the American market
When were the first braceros admitted?
September 27, 1942, for the sugar-beet harvest season
In response to the Senate...
The House responded with a final one-year extension of the program without the non-wage benefits
What was Operation Wetback intended for?
a way to repatriate illegal laborers back to Mexico
What did the agreement guarantee?
-basic human rights (sanitation, adequate shelter and food) -minimum wage of 30 cents an hour -importation of temporary contract laborers from Guam to the United States to supply workers during the early phases of World War II -would not be subject to discrimination
What did many braceros succeed in getting?
-green cards -legal recidency
Others braceros known as "quits".....
-left the fields -headed for work in the cities
U.S. negotiators met with Mexican officials to prepare a new bilateral agreement, which stated.....
-the braceros could not be used as replacement workers for U.S. workers on strike -the braceros were not allowed to go on strike or renegotiate wages -all negotiations would be between the two governments
How many braceros did the US import per year?
On average 200,000
What did several years of the short-term agreement lead to?
-an increase in undocumented immigration -a growing preference for operating outside of the parameters set by the program
"bracero"
Means "manual laborer" or "one who works using his arms"
What was the program intended to do?
To fill the labor shortage in agriculture
