Oct. 28, 2005 - 20:52 MDT

GOOGLE THIS

In a recent entry I made reference to "Braceros" brought into the United States from Mexico and tonight I began to check around, incited by one of those hidden items back in mid paper of the Rocky Mountain News today. Quoted in full here:

MEXICO -- 38,000 PESO PAYMENT FOR U.S. GUEST WORKERS

After decades of waiting and years of protests, fromer "bracero" guest workers who labored in the United States between the (years) 1942 and 1964 will get a one-time payment of about 38,000 pesos, equivalent to about $3,500, the government announced Thursday."

"The payment was described as "insulting" by activists who have mounted a years-long campaign on behalf of the aging former workers, some of whom had pension funds deducted from their paychecks but never saw the money."

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So in Googling I found something from University of Texas El Paso quoted here in part:

"In 1942 the United States entered into a series of agreements with Mexico to organize the Bracero Program in order to overcome the labor shortage caused by World War 2. The program enabled Mexican citizens to come to the united States for temporary labor contracts, which were predominantly in the agriculture industry."

"Between 1942 - 1964, millions of Mexicans came to the United States to work. These men were often referred to as braceros a term derived from the Spanish word brazo or arm, referring to a farmhand or labor for hire. The Bracero Program became the largest and most significant contract labor, guest worker program of the 20th Century. While braceros were to return to Mexico at the end of their labor contracts, many instead immigrated to the United States and kept working."

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Then on further reading I ran into something from the Center for Immigration studies -- titled "Downsizing Illegal Immigration" which somewhat illustrates the whole problem we face.

Then further looking brings up and article of January 27, 2002 from The Dallas Morning News that further goes into the situation.

After that I decided that it is enough to give me and you an idea.

I do have the urls and if asked will send them via e-mail.

Personally I never knew the how and why of the Bracero Program, it was needed during World War 2, truly. But the mishandling of the heldout wages (promised them on their return to Mexico) by which ever country or both is a disgrace to decency. These are workers who have long ago returned to Mexico and are only seeking what was held out for them and promised to them on their return to Mexico. Seems to me that $3,500 U.S. money is not quite enough for what was withheld then. Then considering the fact of 1942 dollars and 2005 dollars the discrepancy is greater yet. And then interest on the withheld money should be paid and that would add more.

Goes along with my line of thought in that laws on immigration and getting tough on same has all been window dressing, enacted and not even barely enforced. At the back scenes dealing by big money folks.

So my friends, GOOGLE THIS . . . . . . . . . . .

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