Bracero Program Planning Essay

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Immigrant workers in the United States have made a large contribution to the agricultural economy of the United States. Relations and agreements between the U.S. and Mexico have greatly influenced the migration of rural workers through policies such as guest worker programs. The Bracero program, an example of such policies, was an agreement between the U.S and Mexico that allowed for the importing of Mexican workers through the use of contracts. Despite the opportunity that many believed was to come from the system, it resulted in a negative utilization of Mexican immigrant workers.
The Bracero Program planning first immerged when growers claimed there was a rise of labor shortages due to World War II. The American Farm Bureau, states that
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A Bracero recalls, “I waited for two months in Mexico City before I was put in the list and permitted to go to Empalme… I waited another fifteen days before they sent me to El Centro (Cohen 96).” Many only had enough food and money to support themselves for a few days. As workers did not have the funds to support themselves through the process, the centers also did not have the necessary equipment, such as housing and food, to maintain such a large population of eager workers (Morgan130). Since there was a lack of assistance provided to the labors, many would search for employment or even beg; and at night, many found sleep in public parks, railway stations, and parking lots (Morgan130). In the film A Harvest of Loneliness, a former Bracero recalled seeing those who had run out of means, beg for food, money, and resorted to eating peels of watermelon or banana to somewhat satisfy their hunger; if that was unattainable, there were men who would resort to eating newspaper. Early on, within the program, suffering was inevitable yet not enough to keep workers from striving to obtain a contract that would be their ticket to the

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