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Border crisis. Let's remember how we got here. (language warning)
No surprise. Uncle Sam didn't keep his word .... and then took it out on workers.
(Disclaimer - I object to the verbiage here. But this is what the program was called at the time.)
During World War II, the Mexican and American governments developed an agreement known as the Bracero program, which 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. Instead of providing military support to the U.S and its military allies, Mexico would provide laborers to the U.S. with the understanding that border security and illegal labor restrictions would be tightened by the United States. The United States agreed, based upon a strong need for cheap labor to support its agricultural businesses, while Mexico hoped to utilize the laborers returned from the United States to boost its efforts to industrialize, grow its economy, and eliminate labor shortages.
The program began on September 27, 1942, when the first braceros were admitted into the United States under this agreement with Mexico. The program called for braceros to be guaranteed wages, housing, food, and exemption from military service. However, even though this was the agreement promised by the United States, workers were denied for multiple reasons and were not given proper paperwork to work in America.
After this agreement was reached, the Mexican government continued pressuring the United States to strengthen its border security or face the suspension of the legal stream of Mexican laborers entering the United States. Two million Mexican nationals participated in the program during its existence, but tensions between the program's stated and implicit goals, plus its ultimate ineffectiveness in limiting illegal immigration into the United States, eventually led to Operation Wetback in 1954
The program began on September 27, 1942, when the first braceros were admitted into the United States under this agreement with Mexico. The program called for braceros to be guaranteed wages, housing, food, and exemption from military service. However, even though this was the agreement promised by the United States, workers were denied for multiple reasons and were not given proper paperwork to work in America.
After this agreement was reached, the Mexican government continued pressuring the United States to strengthen its border security or face the suspension of the legal stream of Mexican laborers entering the United States. Two million Mexican nationals participated in the program during its existence, but tensions between the program's stated and implicit goals, plus its ultimate ineffectiveness in limiting illegal immigration into the United States, eventually led to Operation Wetback in 1954
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wetback
I was a teenager and still remember the film reels of people being packed into cage like trucks, buses, trains ... and hauled back to the southern border like animals. It was horrendous. I was appalled, so was my grandma.
I am still appalled. Until we punish the "job creators" - especially big AG so that it REALLY hurts.... this will continue. I hope VP Harris can get something significant done. This has to stop ...
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