Interviews

Interview no. 65

René Mascareñas Miranda — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:31:21 PST

Interview no. 540

Cándido R. Delgado — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 06:51:37 PDT

Cruzó a trabajar a los Estados Unidos desde los 11 años de edad; tiene experiencias con antiguas patrulleras de emigración después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial; trabajó como bracero durante los 1950s; se vino a vivir a Cd. Juárez donde cruzaba a trabajar ilegalmente practicamente todos los días; actualmente lo ha suspendido y trabaja en Cd. Juárez.

Interview no. 574

Oswald Shooting — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 06:41:03 PDT

Interview no. 1349

María Soledad Herrera de Reyes — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:35:54 PDT

Ms. Herrera de Reyes talks about her family and growing up in her half brother’s home; she was raised with several half siblings, and her mother cared for all of them; when María was still a baby, her father enlisted in the bracero program; while he was gone her mother sold tortillas and worked as a seamstress to supplement their income; María also recalls her day-to-day life with her mother and grandfather; upon her father’s return, he brought his wife and daughters undergarments from the United States, but his wife did not like them; he also bought a lot of groceries once in México to take home to his family; oftentimes, he shared stories with María about his experiences; he told her about the time he came looking for work in the United States and nearly died, because he was lost in the desert for three days; after he obtained a bracero contract, he suffered greatly when he was stripped and deloused like an animal; despite what he endured, he was still fond of several American customs; for instance, he preferred for his wife and daughters to wear pants instead of dresses; in addition, he frequently cooked at home and even showed his wife how to make flour tortillas; when he spoke in English, María thought he was a very important, intelligent and modern man; after his time with the program, the family moved to Los Mochis, Sinaloa, México, where she was formally educated; María eventually married and immigrated to the United States; she and her husband settled in Arizona to raise their family.

Interview no. 734

Lewis Jones — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:34:21 PDT

Discussion of his work with the Customs Service at the bridges in the El Paso - Juarez area since 1945, especially export-import control and seizures of contraband.

Interview no. 1423

Ben Zapata — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:19:23 PDT

Benjamin Zapata was born in 1935 in the Yucatán. In the village that Benjamin lived, they worked in in making hats and head gear. Benjamin had friends who came into the Bracero Program and convinced him to join as well. In 1958, Benjamin decided to join the Bracero Program and he went to Empalme Sonora, México to register for the Bracero Program. From there Benjamin went to Mexicali, México and then he crossed the border and traveled to San Joaquin and Tracy, California. His first job had Benjamin picking tomatoes, that contract lasted for forty-five days. At the end of that contract, Benjamin was able to get contracted for seven more months. Benjamin worked harvesting various items such as grapes, oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, almonds and cotton. In addition Benjamin also worked on a chicken farm. He worked in several different places such as Moorpark, Santa Paula, San Benito, Quesque ranch and Lever's Ranch. During his work as a bracero in the Bracero Program, Benjamin was able to visit México. In 1963 he arranged his papers to get a visa and was able to stay in the United States. In 1971 Benjamin got married and brought his wife to the United States in 1972 where they had their children and raised their family. In 1990 Benjamin became a permanent legal citizen of the United States. For Luis, the Bracero Program was a positive experience.

Interview no. 1422

Luis Zamudio — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:19:22 PDT

Luis Ruiz Zamudio was born in Moroleón Guanajuato, México on August 19th, 1935. Moroleón was a town known for creating shawls (rebozos) and according to Luis, 99% of the townspeople work in one form or another in creating shawls. When Luis was between the ages of 8-10 years old, he began making bobbins and spools for shawl making. However, shawl manufacturing did not pay enough and Luis’s parents had to still take care to plant a plot if corn every year. When he was in the 6th grade, he and his siblings left school to start working full time. Luis already knew how to weave and loom a shawl. They took care of the family for four years while their father took a break from working. When he reached the age of 18, he signed up for a year of military duty, a duty he performed every Sunday without fail in Moroleón. After the year was up, Luis decided to enter the Bracero Program. His father had also worked in the Bracero Program back in 1945. So he went to Monterrey Nuevo León, México for the recruitment process. Luis had to show his mandatory military service card and in addition he had to show that he had sufficient knowledge on the germination process and agriculture. This work allowed Luis to obtain a Form I-100 that helped him work to keep getting work in the Bracero Program for seven years. When he was finished at the recruitment center in Monterrey, Nuevo León, he was sent to a recruitment center in El Centro, California in the United States where he was given a physical examination, blood tests, vaccines and where they were disinfected so to make sure they did not, according to Luis, a parasite. In addition it was here that Luis signed his contracts and then was sent to which ever boss he was contracted to. As a bracero, Luis cultivated, irrigated, and harvested celery, lettuce, cabbage, tomato, onion, carrots, potatoes, corn, melon, watermelon, strawberries, squash, cucumber, cotton; as well as flowers such as geranium, gladiolus and esters. In addition, the braceros did non-field work such as packing, loading and other jobs for their boss. Luis does not recall ever knowing of a fellow bracero working there illegally. There were instances where men would desert their work at their assigned camp to work for another camp. The braceros were only allowed to work for the boss (patron) they had a contract with and it was with permission from both the Department of Labor of Mexico and the United States that a bracero could get a new contract. Luis fondly remembers one patron named Ruben Killingsworth who was the chief steward of the Batch Gold Company in Peoria, Arizona. Luis and Ruben were friends and Luis was invited to dinner with his family and even became friends with one of the children of Ruben Killingsworth. Luis also worked for Cook's Produce Company. Hours of work depended on what the boss required, however Luis usually work from 7am until 3pm. He worked eight hour days, six days a week, though the braceros had an option of working Sunday. Breakfast consisted of oatmeal, eggs any way one wanted, bread and coffee. Lunch was a bagged meal that was consumed in the field. The braceros had a ten minute break at 10am, then a thirty minute lunch at noon, with another break at ten minute break at 2 p.m. and then the end of the day at 3 p.m. The braceros were supplied with cooking tools so they could cook their own meals. If they ate the food provided for them, they were charged $1.75 a day which equaled to $12.25 a week that was deducted from their earnings. They slept in a barrack with bunk beds that lined the place. They had a sinks and toilets however they had to usually shower 10-20 people at a time. The barracks were well heated and cooled and were taken care of. It was not specified which camp had these rules and conditions. Luis’s pay varied depending on the state and the job. In the state of Texas he was paid between $0.75 to $0.85 cents an hour and was paid by the pound for cotton. In California, they were paid between $0.95 cents to $ 1.10 dollar an hour, depending on the job. However those who harvested corn, flowers and some vegetables were paid $1.00 an hour. Carrots, potatoes, onions and tomatoes were paid $0.10 cents a basket/box. For Luis, watermelon and melon were the hardest jobs to work. The braceros were paid by check which allowed them to send the money home in México. A bracero could only be contracted for one company for 18 months at a time. At the end of those 18 months, if the contracted was to be redone, the bracero had to leave for the border, cross the border into México and then turn right around again with a letter of employment from their employer. Luis does not recall having issues with his earnings. He does recall an incident of discrimination in Texas where a barber refused to cut his hair. Luis mentions having heard of what César Chávez was doing in California during the time that Luis worked as a bracero, however he states that those types of protests were not occurring where he worked. Luis worked as a bracero for seven years, under six different contracts. The first contract was for thirty days in Los Fresnos, Texas. The second was for eighteen months in Maricopa County, Arizona. The third contract was for four months in Tahoka, Texas. The fourth contract was for eight months in Pinal County, Arizona. The fifth contract was for seven months in the county of Los Angeles. For the sixth and final contract, Luis returned again to Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, here in California, with the Artesia Growers Association. Luis spent his last year and a half as a bracero here. It was this last boss that helped him gain legal residency. From August 1955 to September 1961 Luis worked in the Bracero Program in the United States. Overall, Luis describes his experience in the Bracero Program as positive because he was able to help the United States during a time of need and that work helped him become a citizen of the United States.

Interview no. 1421

Ramiro Solis — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:19:20 PDT

Ramiro Solis was born on December 28, 1922 in Tekax Yucatán, México attended school and learned to read and write, however, after his father passed away, everyone in the family had to start working. Ramiro left school to work with his father’s former Chinese countrymen who paid Ramiro $0.02 cents a row for harvesting herbs and he would earn $0.10 -$0.12 cents a day for his work. He went on to work as a roper (one who makes ropes) in Mérida, Yucatán. Then there was a decline in jobs, and the Mexican government began pushing for unemployed men to enter the Bracero Program. In 1957 he entered the Bracero Program. At that time he was already married with five children, two boys and three girls, so Ramiro entered the program to support his family. To enter the program, Ramiro had to show that he worked in agriculture for at least five years, had the calloused hands to prove it. He was hired into the Ranchers Association and traveled into the United States via trains, in livestock cars. At the reception center, workers were left without money or food and they had to sell water to try to buy food. Shortly after, he was sent to the Rosie Labor Camp to pick strawberries for $0.57 cents an hour. When he worked with the Association of Watsonville he was paid $0.57 cents per hour and he was pressured to work like other local workers who got paid by the box whereas the Ramiro and other braceros were earning $0.57 cents per hour. The amount that a local worker earned a week was roughly between $14.00 to $14.75. Ramiro states that they (braceros) could work hard all day and never fill one box. He describes himself and other braceros being treated as animals because the bosses wanted the braceros to work just as hard and fast as the local workers. Ramiro states that one could work on Saturday and Sunday because there was always work. Ramiro developed friendships with the cooks on the labor camps and through these relationships he was able to get jobs more easily. In a typical day, the braceros in the labor camp that Ramiro worked would wake up at 5 a.m., eat breakfast and take their bag lunch to the field. At noon, they would break for lunch for half an hour and then work until 3p.m. If there were more strawberries to harvest, then they would work longer until 5 p.m., otherwise, they only worked eight hours. At the end of the day, the braceros were told by the bosses that they were required under contract to clean the tools used in harvesting the strawberries. The braceros cleaned what they had to, sometimes for six hours without pay. The Braceros ate Mexican food at the camp and they were charged $1.75 a day for food. The boss would deduct the cost of food from their earnings. Although the food was not always good, the braceros were given enough food to eat. Ramiro describes the housing to be a barrack with a hundred beds in rows. The braceros would place their clothing under the bed. The shower had 10 to 15 showers line up next to another and the braceros showered together. The braceros washed their clothes in machines, however Ramiro states that he did not wash his clothes, but rather purchased second hand clothing inexpensively. Personal toiletries were not provided by the bosses. Checks were issued out the 15th and 30th of each month. Ramiro sent the bulk of his check and usually kept $5-$6 for himself. He did have instances where he had issues with being paid or the having deductions, however he was always able to work out the issue. Ramiro left at the end of the season and in the following year he was unable to return as a bracero because he had tuberculosis. Ramiro stayed in México working and submitting paper work so he could move to the United States legally; it took five years. Ramiro describes the experience of being a bracero as a time where they were exploited. Ramiro states that they were worked hard for very little money and that he didn’t realize this until he began working outside of the Bracero Program and found that one could be paid based off of how hard one worked. Ramiro feels that the bosses took advantage of the workers. For Ramiro, the Bracero Program was not a positive experience.

Interview no. 1420

Eduardo Saldaña — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:19:19 PDT

Eduardo was born in a town (rancho) called Ojos de Agua, located within the Greater México City urban area, in 1920. From the age of five, Eduardo worked with him father, brothers and uncles sowing and plowing in México. When he was 16, he moved to México City. In 1943 after hearing about the Bracero Program in a national ad, Eduardo took a chance to make more money and have a better opportunity through the program. Eduardo and one of his brothers came to the United States via train and were provided food during their travel, courtesy of their new employer. Everything was in order during the trip to the United States and for Eduardo everything was good and in order here in the United States as well. During the reception part of the process, their clothes were taken away and replaced with new clothes and the new braceros were able to wash up in showers provided for them; showers that according to Eduardo were very elegant. He earned $0.50 cents per hour, for a nine hour day, in cash. Eduardo and his brother were provided with a place to sleep as well as meals and if they were out and about with the employer and it came time to eat, the employer would pay for the meals. In addition, they were provided with medical insurance as per their contract with their employer. Eduardo and his brother worked for one employer who treated them very well. The employer, according to Eduardo, treated them like family, provided well for them, ate meals with them and greatly respected the wishes of the workers. Eduardo is very thankful for this employer and feels that due to the generosity of his employer, Eduardo was able to be more successful. Eduardo sent money to his parents as often as he could, while at the same time saving money as well. Since he was hired to work for a certain salary, Eduardo did not earn more than what he was contracted for. However, he states that he was never cheated out of the correct amount of earnings and 10% was deducted from their earnings and deposited in the National Bank in México. Eduardo and his brother were always together and were able to come and go as they pleased. Eduardo worked in the Bracero Program for three years. After those three years, he and his brother returned to México to reclaim the 10% that removed from their earnings. Eduardo returned to the United States illegally. He eventually met and married a woman who was a citizen of the United States and together they worked on Eduardo becoming a legalized citizen of the United States. Prior to working in the program, Eduardo never considered going north to the United States, however, he is thankful to God that he was able to come to the United States to work and be successful. Eduardo was very successful in the United States and through his hard work he was able to purchase several properties. Eduardo is very grateful to the United States and to God, who he feels rescued him from everything.

Interview no. 1418

Porfirio Z. Rico — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:19:17 PDT

Porfirio Rico was born in Jéruco Michoacán, México on September 14, 1914. He attended school until the second grade when Porfirio was taken out of school so he could learn to tend to animals and do housework and light field work. When he was about 10 or 11 years old, Porfirio worked with his grandfather, earning $.15 cents an hour. Porfirio worked in various places such as Morelia, Irapuato Guanajuato, Guadalajara, Aguascalientes in México. Porfirio heard about the Bracero Program and decided to give it a try because the work in México was becoming very hard to come by. When he registered for the Bracero Program, Porfirio was doused with DDT and checked for nits. Porfirio was contracted to be paid $.72 cents an hour and was offered room and food for a $1.50 a day. It was 1944 and the first city Porfirio work in as a bracero in the United States was Anaheim, California. He worked in many cities such as San Dimas, Santa Barbara and San Marcos. There were where instances however when Porfirio crossed over to work illegally without work papers, though he states that he is now a legal citizen in the United States. Porfirio doesn’t recall having been subjected to discrimination and feels that working in the Bracero Program was a good opportunity to earn money and help family back home in México.

Interview no. 1402

Raúl Hernández — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:19:15 PDT

Raúl Hernandez was born in Vista Hermosa de Negrete, Michoacán. His parents were field laborers and from a very young age, Raúl was taken out of school and he learned to care for goats. When Raúl was a 17 year old, poor, newlywed, he decided to travel North in search of a job. Prior to entering the Bracero Program, Raúl worked in Tamaulipas and Matamoros picking cotton and corn. After entering the Bracero Program, worked picking cotton and various types of produce in Texas and California. During this time, Raúl experienced discrimination against minorities and in his case, Mexicans working in the United States. At one point Raúl had to pay a coyote $125 to cross over to the United States. At the end of the Bracero Program, Raúl decided to bring his family to the United States permanently. He appreciated the work that he was able to do, because the money earned allowed him to buy a home for his family in Mexico and eventually bring them over. Raúl is still actively involved with issues pertaining to the Bracero Program, notably the issue with money that was due to the braceros for their service. Overall he had a positive experience with the Bracero Program.

Interview no. 1401

Porfirio B. García — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:22:55 PDT

Porfirio García was born in a town (rancho) called Tendeparacua in the state of Michoacán, México. His parents were also field workers who taught Porfirio and his two brothers how to make tiles for homes, a job that Porfirio worked in until a chance to enter the Bracero Program came to him. The chance to join the Bracero Program came when the governor of Morelia gave the township of Tendeparacua cards to enlist men for the program. Porfirio has worked in many states such as Arkansas, California, Washington State and Texas picking various produce. At the end of the war in 1945, Porfirio was able to continue working as a bracero while visiting his family every now and then; for Porfirio, helping family came first. He did not recall having issues with his salary nor did he have issues with the managers or bosses of the camps. Where he was contracted to work, Porfirio had the ability to come and go with freedom and use his money the way he saw fit and he sent the majority of his money to his family back home. Even though he could have worked in México making tiles, Porfirio felt that he had a better opportunity here in the United States being a good hard worker. Porfirio felt that the Bracero Program was helpful in the country’s time of need.

Interview no. 1400

Ezequiel García — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:22:51 PDT

Ezequiel García entered the Bracero Program in 1952 when he was 20 years old. As a bracero in the Bracero Program, Ezequiel pick various fruits, vegetables and plants such as sugar beets, tomato, cabbage, lettuce, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower and tobacco. Ezequiel earned $0.75 cents an hour for his work in the Bracero Program and worked for several different employers for lengthy amounts of time. He recounts nothing but fond memories and feels grateful to his employers who treated him well. Ezequiel found the procedures for entrance to the Bracero Programs in order and without problems. Ezequiel worked very hard to save money to support his family by renting a home and eventually purchasing a home for his family. Through his small network of connections, Ezequiel was able to bring his wife over from México with him in the United States with the necessary documentation. For him, having been a bracero brings pride and satisfaction for having worked so hard for so many years.

Interview no. 1399

Rodolfo Balderrama — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:22:46 PDT

Rodolfo Balderrama had some ranches in Satevó Chihuahua, México. He heard of the Bracero Program from a few ranch hands who had worked in the program. Coupled with curiosity and poverty, Rodolfo decided to try the program for himself. He experienced the lengthy entrance portion of the Bracero Program where his hands were closely examined for callouses, nicks and cuts; signs that proved he worked on a ranch/farm. Rodolfo was given x-rays to determine if he had tuberculosis and was searched in his head for lice. He traveled to many cities around the United States while working for the Bracero Program and was often without adequate water to drink and clean with while staying in the work camps. Rodolfo picked cotton, beets, and other agriculture in cities such as, El Paso, Dell City, Lovington NM, and Fort Lupton Colorado. Rodolfo was also registered for military service, but was unable to serve due to having a flat foot. After six years of working within the Bracero Program, Rodolfo applied for citizenship of the United States and was admitted. Although he does not mention a wife, Rodolfo does make mention of a son named Hector and a daughter whose name was not revealed. Rodolfo feels proud of the work he did while in the Bracero Program. He acknowledges that the work he performed is not the typical work a person might want to do, but the work abled him to help his brother work and provide for his immediate family in ways that he would not have been able to do if it were not for the Bracero Program. Even though he feels pride about the time he spent working hard in the Bracero Program, Rodolfo also acknowledges that he witnessed a lot of sadness as well while working in the Bracero Program.

Interview no. 1376

María de la Luz Saenz — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:22:41 PDT

Mrs. Saenz describes her childhood as being very sad due to her mother’s illness and her father being away for so long; as a child Mrs. Saenz remembers having to help out her mother around the house as much as she could in order to ease her mothers workload; in 1941 her mother became very ill and was hospitalized for a year and a half, Mrs. Saenz states that her brothers and sisters were raised by her father and her grandmother; in 1945 her father became a bracero in order to get money to be able to pay for her mother’s medical expenses; Mrs. Saenz remembers that her father’s contracts lasted for 45 days, after the contract was over her father would return and care for them; Mrs. Saenz recalls her father and brother being contracted to work together, she states that after a few weeks both returned back home because her father had become very ill; in 1951 Mrs. Saenz got married to her husband whom she had met at a party; Mrs. Saenz states that one of the saddest day in her life was when her father passed away in 1957, she always thought of him to be there to care for her; after having her first child Mrs. Saenz husband left as a bracero for a year and a half; Mrs. Saenz states that she was always alone with her son and occasionally without food and money; Mrs. Saenz experience with the bracero program is very negative, stating that families were left alone, children missed their father and that some families were even separated; Mrs. Saenz meaning to the word bracero is that of separation and loneliness.

Interview no. 1375

Francisco Sáenz — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:22:36 PDT

Mr. Sáenz talks about growing up on a ranch with his family, and he shares several stories about his life in México; in 1951, he married, and he started a family soon after; a few years later, in 1956, he decided to enlist in the bracero program; he went through the contracting center in Empalme, Sonora, México and recounts the entire process, including the various requirements and long waiting times; from there he traveled by train to the border in Mexicali, Baja California, México, where he was stripped, examined and deloused, which he describes as very aggressive; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of California cleaning, pruning, fumigating, picking and packing various crops; he goes on to detail the different worksites, camp sizes, housing, accommodations, amenities, provisions, duties, routines, treatment, contract lengths and renewals, payments, deductions, remittances and recreational activities, including trips into town; one of his favorite places to shop was JC Penney; after the crops were fumigated it was especially difficult to pick, because the smell was so bad; he also remembers that a friend from his hometown was killed in an accident after being trampled by heavy machinery; his remains were sent home, and his family was paid a compensatory fee; in addition, he offers other anecdotes about his time as a bracero; he eventually immigrated to the United States, and he slowly began bringing his wife and ten children; overall, he had positive experiences working with the program, and he learned a great deal.

Interview no. 1374

Claro Ruiz Ortíz — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:22:31 PDT

Mr. Ortíz talks about his family and what his life was like growing up; in 1956, he decided to enlist in the bracero program, because there was no work in México; he went through the contracting center in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, and he describes the process as very long and sad; thousands of men were waiting, and they were divided into groups, stripped and examined altogether in a large room; he explains that if he had proof he had already worked as a bracero, he was able to pass through more quickly; from there, he was transferred in a cargo train that had previously been filled with metals to the border in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México; upon crossing into the United States, he was deloused and further examined before going to the worksite; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah cleaning, pruning and picking apples, beets, cotton and pears; he goes on to detail the various worksites, camp sizes, housing, accommodations, amenities, provisions, duties, routines, working relationships, payments, remittances, contract lengths, correspondence and recreational activities, including trips into town; although he obtained yearly contracts from 1956 to 1959, in 1960, it was too hard, and he had to wait until the following year, which was his last; in addition, he offers several anecdotes about his experiences with the program, including attending religious services and celebrating holidays; overall, he has positive memories of his time as a bracero.

Interview no. 1373

Alfonso Romero Hernández — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:22:26 PDT

Mr. Hernández briefly talks about his family; in 1958, he decided to enlist in the bracero program; he submitted his birth certificate and proof of military service in order to put himself on the local list of available workers; as part of the contracting process, he was stripped, medically examined and vaccinated; as a bracero, he completed four contracts and labored in the fields of Colorado and New México cleaning, pruning and picking beets and cotton; he goes on to detail the various worksites, housing, provisions, duties and remittances; while working in the beet fields of Greeley, Colorado, he had to use the short hoe, which was extremely difficult; he had to learn how to cook his own food; Saturdays, after work, he went into town for supplies; although he was never really able to save any money, he was treated well and never had any problems; after his time in the program, he returned to México and continued working in the fields; when he was roughly twenty-five years old, he married and later had two children; he eventually immigrated to the United States and became a legal resident; overall, he has positive memories of his time as a bracero; he is grateful to the United States because of all the help he received.

Interview no. 1372

Nicolás Rodríguez — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:22:21 PDT

Mr. Rodríguez briefly talks about his family and what his life was like growing up; he recalls recruiters for the bracero program going to Culiacán, Sinaloa, México and giving out papers to enlist in Empalme, Sonora, México; at the time, he had a wife and children to support, and he decided to join the program; he describes the entire process he underwent in Empalme, including necessary documents, waiting for fifteen days and being stripped and medically examined; from there he was sent to the border at Calexico, California by train, where he endured further exams, including x-rays, injections and several blood samples, which caused many men to faint; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of California picking almonds, cantaloupe, pecans, tomatoes and watermelon; he goes on to detail the various worksites, camp sizes, housing, amenities, accommodations, provisions, duties, routines, treatment, payments, deductions, remittances, contract lengths, friendships and recreational activities, including trips into town; while working in Lemoore, California, his appendix ruptured, and he was rushed to the hospital by an ambulance; after his surgery, he was out of work for eighteen days; during this time, he and others that were ill stayed in a hotel; the men were encouraged to return to México, but Nicolás told the Mexican consul he wanted to go back to work, which he was able to do; he later immigrated to the United States and became a legal resident; overall, he had a positive experience with the program and is proud of his work as a bracero.

Interview no. 1371

Lauro Rivas — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:22:17 PDT

Mr. Rivas recalls hearing people talk about the bracero program when he was young; he had great illusions of coming to the United States and having a better life; in 1957, when he was seventeen years old, he decided to enlist in the bracero program; he initially went through the contracting center in Empalme, Sonora, México, but he was unable to obtain a contract; later that same year, he went through the center in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México; as part of the process, he had to present proof of military service, and he also endured medical exams, which included blood samples and delousing procedures; as a bracero, he completed a total of five contracts, and he labored in the fields of California, Colorado and Texas cleaning, pruning and picking beets, celery, cotton, lettuce and tomatoes; he goes on to detail the various worksites, housing, accommodations, amenities, provisions, duties, routines, treatment, payments, deductions and recreational activities, including trips into town; when working with beets and lettuce, he had to use the short hoe, which was extremely difficult; he was happiest while working in Oxnard, California, because he was treated very well and the weather was agreeable; he was sad to leave after only one year; he later married and had two children, one boy and one girl; eventually, he immigrated to the United States, and he describes the process he underwent to obtain legal documentation; he concludes that the bracero program changed his life for the better, because he was able to help his family.