Abstract The Mexico/American border has historically been opened and closed depending on the standing of the United States workforce. When additional labor is in demand, the U.S. enacts legislation to loosen the borders, bringing in Mexican immigrants for cheap labor. However, when unemployment rates are high, the U.S. often curbs immigration and deports immigrant workers. Such was the case with the Bracero Program of the 1940s. This paper examines this guest worker program and its varying effects on the border and on Mexican contract workers.
From the Paper "The Bracero program failed Mexican workers in many ways. First of all, the treatment of these workers was anything but fair. At a time when unionization had long been established as a method of worker protection, the Bracero agreement concerning unionization was limited. While the original version allowed workers the right to self-organize, soon the United States government added a provision for the Braceros to maintain their original work contract. (Cockcroft, 68)"
