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Ernest Rodriguez speeches, 1976-2006

Ernest Rodriguez CHALE (Chicano Hispanic Association for Legal Education) Speech Page 4

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During World War II, the U.S. industry was in full gear to equip our armies overseas and a shortage of labor existed because the majority of our ablebodied men were in the armed services.

Therefore, the U.S. to fill the need for labor passed the Bracero Act which permitted single Mexican nationals to come to this country under contract to work mostly as railroad section hands and farm laborers.

This was true up to the end of the Bracero Act in 1968.

Many of the braceros managed to stay at the end of their work contract or found their way back to the U.S. as undocumented workers.

I can remember during the late 40's and from then on up to the present the (mica) permanent resident visa became a very important identifier and economic passport to better jobs for the Mexican.

The Majority of the undocumented workers invariably have to accept a form of economic enslavement. Many employers are aware of the undocumented workers vulnerability and exploits his fear of detection and deportation paying him substandard wages and firing him if he demands more or when he is no longer needed.

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4-4-4 During World War II, the U.S. industry was in full gear to equip our armies overseas and a shortage of labor existed because the majority of our ablebodied men were in the armed services. Therefore, the U.S. to fill the need for labor passed the Bracero Act which permitted single Mexican nationals to come to this country under contract to work mostly as railroad section hands and farm laborers. This was true up to the end of the Bracero Act in 1968. Many of the braceros managed to stay at the end of their work contract or found their way back to the U.S. as undocumented workers. I can remember during the late 40's and from then on up to the present the (mica) permanent resident visa became a very important identifier and economic passport to better jobs for the Mexican. The Majority of the undocumented workers invariably have to accept a form of economic enslavement. Many employers are aware of the undocumented workers vulnerability and exploits his fear of detection and deportation paying him substandard wages and firing him if he demands more or when he is no longer needed. 4