Bracero Program

The Bracero Program was the labour agreement signed between the United States and Mexico that existed from 1942 to 1964. Under the Bracero Program, Mexican workers, known as “braceros”, could come into the United States for temporary employment on American farms and railroads to temporarily help alleviate agrarian labour shortages in America during World War II. The Bracero Program brought into the United States more than 4.5 million Mexican workers but was plagued with criticism of exploitation, poor working conditions, and low wages. Regardless of the controversy surrounding its legacy, the Bracero Program has had a lasting influence on the history of labour relations between the United States and Mexico. It continues to shape Mexican immigration to the United States.