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The Bracero
Program
During the Second World War,
thousands of workers from impoverished rural areas in Mexico came
to the United States to work in the fields as part of a
guestworker plan known as the Bracero Program. The program was
notorious for the abuse and exploitation as well as the
indignities of racism and discrimination inflicted upon the
workers and it was finally abolished in 1964.
Now, more than 40 years later, one
of the many injustices that those workers endured --illegal wage
deductions-- is finally getting redress. In October a federal
district court in San Francisco awarded some of these workers
(those who worked from 1942-1946) backpay which they were
supposed to have received after they returned home to Mexico.
Farmworker Justice is assisting in
distributing information about this court settlement.
History:
Eight years ago, six former braceros
filed a class action federal lawsuit, on behalf of themselves and
other braceros, against the Mexican government. Those braceros and
the Mexican Government have now entered into a proposed settlement,
which entitles some former braceros to receive a one-time award of
38,000 pesos from the Mexican Government.
Braceros or their surviving
family members who reside in the U.S. and can provide original
documents to show that they (or a deceased parent or spouse) worked
as a bracero from January 1, 1942 through December
31, 1946 must fill out a claim form available at
www.casobracero.com. All claims must be presented in person to
a Mexican Consulate office or the Mexican Embassy in Washington,
D.C. by January 5, 2009.
For more information or assistance in
filling out and delivering the application claim forms, please visit
the Caso Bracero web site at
www.casobracero.com, call the toll-free Caso Bracero
Hotline at 1-877-436-9359, or send a letter to Caso
Bracero, P.O. Box 641610, Chicago, Illinois, 60664-1610.
DEADLINES: Claim forms must be
submitted to one of the Mexican Consulates in the United States or
to the Consular Section of the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C.
and must be received by the consulate or the Consular Section of the
Embassy of Mexico on or before January 5, 2009.
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