Mexican immigration can be traced back as early as the 1850s in the United States. According to PBS, The Border series explain “In this period as many as 55,000 mexicans migrated to the country, significantly the region which Mexico previously owned.” Mexicans significantly contributed to the American labor force by working in commercial agriculture, the mining industry, the light industry, and the railroad. However, these immigrants had very low salaries. These immigrants were recognized for constructing the railroad between Mexico and the United States. Moreover, from 1880-1890, 60% of railway working crews were mostly Mexican. Mexican immigrants were and are the backbone of this country because they worked in these physically demanding jobs.
During World War II a vast amount of Americans were across shore and fighting the war against other countries. This created a problem because people were needed to work in jobs that previously americans were doing. So both the United States and Mexican Government agreed that Mexicans were able to migrate to the US and be contracted as temporary workers. The program was named the Braceros program which lasted until 1964. Nearly five million Mexicans came to the country to work in short-term, but primarily agricultural labor jobs. Mexicans needed jobs and were willing to work in arduous jobs that paid very little. Current farmers during that time worried about work because the braceros were working in the same jobs. The braceros had safeguards provided to them; if employed for at least three-fourths of their contract, “adequate, sanitary, and free housing; decent meals at reasonable prices; occupational insurance at employer's expense; and free transportation back to Mexico at the end of the contract. Employers were supposed to hire braceros only in areas of certified domestic labor shortage, and were not to use them as strikebreakers.”. The growers ignored the regulations by paying for cheap labor which resulted the Mexicans suffering for many years. Their wages dropped profoundly that they were being paid the same salary as a manufacture worker which was less than 30 cents.
Many people in Mexico find it hard to survive because financial opportunities are very scarce. One real life example can be a man who was a “bracero” who came to United States in order to make money and make a better life for himself. His name was Rigoberto Garcia Perez. His father was a bracero too and he saw how much his dad improved financially. his dad did not want him to cross the border but he did illegally and worked in farms that grow primarily fruit. Rigoberto worked for a period of time and later on decided to head to Mexico and get married. He wanted to cross again but this time as a bracero at a contracting station in Sonora, in Empalme. At the station he describes that thousands of people were so willing to go because the pay was $300. He had multiple trips as a bracero but Rigoberto states it was a horrible experience because it was a long bus trip, people were denied work if they were sick, and the braceros had to be striped naked and clean as if they were animals because supposedly they were “dirty”. Then they will be transported in huge trucks all crowded together at the place where the contractors (San Joaquin County, Yolo , Sacramento, Fresno) would choose them and be given work. During that time he was earning 80 cents per hour. He also worked in tomato fields which paid 20 cents per box but it was very arduous because a person needed to pick out around 100 boxes a day. In one of his working camps he witnessed a boy from poisoned food that they were given. he himself was also poisoned but he only had a few days of diarrhea. every morning he would wake up in a camp which look similar to an army’s camp, they were expected to maintain it clean. when they came back from work he describes that the braceros looked and smelled like dirty dogs. they often went into town and had some fun. Rigoberto feels fortunate because in other camps braceros were exploited by foremen. Rigoberto’ss brother was also a bracero and went into strike with other braceros too because much was being ask for them in the fields. he advocated his rights along with his brother and even Ceaser Chavez. he wanted to go home but he had nothing financially to provide for his family, so he kept on coming to the United States. He later decided not to go to Mexico but instead bring his family because he felt depressed being alone. he fixed his migration papers so there wouldn’t be any issues. he wanted a better future for his children and is satisfied what he did in the course of his life-span because it all concluded with him being happy. Rigoberto comments that, “I always remembered how I got here. Illegal, as a bracero.”
During World War II a vast amount of Americans were across shore and fighting the war against other countries. This created a problem because people were needed to work in jobs that previously americans were doing. So both the United States and Mexican Government agreed that Mexicans were able to migrate to the US and be contracted as temporary workers. The program was named the Braceros program which lasted until 1964. Nearly five million Mexicans came to the country to work in short-term, but primarily agricultural labor jobs. Mexicans needed jobs and were willing to work in arduous jobs that paid very little. Current farmers during that time worried about work because the braceros were working in the same jobs. The braceros had safeguards provided to them; if employed for at least three-fourths of their contract, “adequate, sanitary, and free housing; decent meals at reasonable prices; occupational insurance at employer's expense; and free transportation back to Mexico at the end of the contract. Employers were supposed to hire braceros only in areas of certified domestic labor shortage, and were not to use them as strikebreakers.”. The growers ignored the regulations by paying for cheap labor which resulted the Mexicans suffering for many years. Their wages dropped profoundly that they were being paid the same salary as a manufacture worker which was less than 30 cents.
Many people in Mexico find it hard to survive because financial opportunities are very scarce. One real life example can be a man who was a “bracero” who came to United States in order to make money and make a better life for himself. His name was Rigoberto Garcia Perez. His father was a bracero too and he saw how much his dad improved financially. his dad did not want him to cross the border but he did illegally and worked in farms that grow primarily fruit. Rigoberto worked for a period of time and later on decided to head to Mexico and get married. He wanted to cross again but this time as a bracero at a contracting station in Sonora, in Empalme. At the station he describes that thousands of people were so willing to go because the pay was $300. He had multiple trips as a bracero but Rigoberto states it was a horrible experience because it was a long bus trip, people were denied work if they were sick, and the braceros had to be striped naked and clean as if they were animals because supposedly they were “dirty”. Then they will be transported in huge trucks all crowded together at the place where the contractors (San Joaquin County, Yolo , Sacramento, Fresno) would choose them and be given work. During that time he was earning 80 cents per hour. He also worked in tomato fields which paid 20 cents per box but it was very arduous because a person needed to pick out around 100 boxes a day. In one of his working camps he witnessed a boy from poisoned food that they were given. he himself was also poisoned but he only had a few days of diarrhea. every morning he would wake up in a camp which look similar to an army’s camp, they were expected to maintain it clean. when they came back from work he describes that the braceros looked and smelled like dirty dogs. they often went into town and had some fun. Rigoberto feels fortunate because in other camps braceros were exploited by foremen. Rigoberto’ss brother was also a bracero and went into strike with other braceros too because much was being ask for them in the fields. he advocated his rights along with his brother and even Ceaser Chavez. he wanted to go home but he had nothing financially to provide for his family, so he kept on coming to the United States. He later decided not to go to Mexico but instead bring his family because he felt depressed being alone. he fixed his migration papers so there wouldn’t be any issues. he wanted a better future for his children and is satisfied what he did in the course of his life-span because it all concluded with him being happy. Rigoberto comments that, “I always remembered how I got here. Illegal, as a bracero.”