Bracero Program

Mexican agricultural laborer top sugar beets near Stockton, California.

Date Created:

Place Created: United States

Year Created: 1942

Description: The Bracero Program operated from 1942 to 1964 as a bilateral guest‑worker initiative between the United States and Mexico. It aimed to fill critical labor shortages in U.S. agriculture and railroads during World War II and beyond, bringing in over 4.6 million Mexican workers under short‑term contracts. While it boosted farm productivity and provided higher wages for many participants, the program also sparked controversies over worker exploitation, wage suppression for domestic laborers, and unequal living conditions.

Categories of Documents:

United States