The Bracero Program was a series of agreements between the United States and Mexico that permitted Mexican laborers to take short-term agricultural labor contracts in the U.S. from 1942 to 1964. Initiated during World War II to address labor shortages in American agriculture caused by the war effort, the program brought millions of Mexican workers to the United States.
The program’s significance lies in its substantial impact on both the American agricultural industry and Mexican labor migration patterns. It provided a crucial source of labor for American farms, particularly in the Southwest, facilitating the production of essential crops. Simultaneously, it offered economic opportunities for Mexican workers, although often under exploitative conditions. This program shaped immigration policies and contributed to the ongoing debate regarding migrant labor in the U.S.
