Bracero (Noun)
Meaning
A Mexican laborer who worked in the United States on farms and railroads in order to ease labor shortages during World War II.
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- The bracero program was established in 1942 to bring Mexican workers to the United States to fill labor gaps in agriculture and railroads.
- Many braceros were recruited from rural areas of Mexico and were sent to work on farms and ranches in the southwestern United States.
- The bracero program was initially intended to be a temporary solution to labor shortages, but it continued until 1964.
- Braceros were often subjected to poor working and living conditions, and were frequently paid lower wages than American workers.
- The bracero program had a significant impact on the demographics of the southwestern United States, as many braceros eventually settled in the region and became permanent residents.