How It Started
The year of 1942 brought millions of Mexican Workers to the United States, which ended four decades ago. The Bracero Program was created by executive order because many growers argued that WWII would bring labor shortages to low paying agricultural jobs. Also, the program had safeguards to protect both Mexican and domestic workers such as payment of prevailing area wage received by native workers, and adequate free housing. Between the 1940's and 50's, farm wages dropped sharply as a percentage of manufacturing wages, a result in part of the use of braceros and undocumented laborers who lacked rights in America..
Who Were Involved?
Under this program, Mexican workers who were poor, were allowed to enter the United States on a temporary basis. Between 1942 and 1964, the year the program ended, it was estimated that approximately 4.6 million Mexican nationals came to work in the U.S. as braceros.