Rubén Hinojosa: “During World War II, America experienced an enormous labor shortage. The U.S. asked the Mexican Government to send guest…”

“During World War II, America experienced an enormous labor shortage. The U.S. asked the Mexican Government to send guest workers to help relieve the shortage, particularly in the agricultural regions of California and Texas, as well as Florida. Between 1942 and the 1960s, approximately 5 million guest workers called braceros came and worked in America's fields and on our railroads. They helped us grow the food we needed to feed American soldiers. By maintaining the railroads, they kept our guns and tanks and military equipment moving to our ports for shipment to soldiers overseas. When we asked them to come, they came and did the back-breaking manual labor necessary to get the job done. The braceros asked for very little in return. They only wanted a fair wage for their work. As government contract workers, they were required to have 10 percent of their wages withheld. This money was to be placed in savings accounts and paid to the workers upon their return to Mexico. Unfortunately, many braceros fell prey to abusive employers and the negligence of the U.S. Government and the Mexican Government.”