User:Seththrowgen/Operation Wetback

Opening section
The implementation of Operation Wetback was a result of Attorney General Henry Brownell's touring of Southern California in August of 1953. It was here that he made note of the "shocking and unsettling" issue that was illegal immigration. -source https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3138/j.ctt2ttpgc.10

-In May 1954 Attorney General Brownell hired retired Lieutenant General Joseph Swing to be the head of Immigration Services. same source as above

Background and causes
1.

2. Bracero Program
The Bracero Program would not have a consistent implementation or direction during its 22-year duration. The program itself can be classified into three main phases. The first between 1942-1946 saw heavy input from the Mexican government in regard to the operations of the Bracero program. The second phase can be seen between the years of 1947-1954 where the policy shifted from mass legalization of illegal immigrants to mass repatriation of said immigrants. The El Paso incident would begin discussion of establishing a labor pool versus dealing with the "illegal invasion" of these immigrants. ￼ In certain cases, undocumented workers found by INS agents would be legalized as Braceros instead of deported. ￼ The final phase lasted from 1955 to 1964 saw the end of the Bracero program. The contradictive nature of wanting a source of labor in the form of Mexican immigrants but distaste for the immigrants by the population would persist here.

second phase 1947-1954, shift in policy from mass legalization to mass repatriation

3.

4.

5. El Paso incident. In October 1948, Immigration officials opened the Texas- Mexico border which allowed several thousand undocumented workers to cross the border. From here most workers were escorted by Border Patrol agents straight to the cotton fields. This event started the informal practice of using undocumented Mexican labor while the blacklist was in place. This incident was problematic due to the direct way the US government was involved in the managing and movement of these undocumented workers. This opening of the border was also in direct violation of previous agreements with the Mexican government.

Operation Wetback (1954)
At its peak the Bracero program allotted around 309,000 contracts to Mexican laborers. What followed this was a series of repatriations under the name, Operation Wetback. Similar repatriations can be seen during the Great Depression. - https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3138/j.ctt2ttpgc.10

Implementation and Tactics
Timeline: source: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3138/j.ctt2ttpgc.10

June 9: California roundup and deportation begins

June 10- Phase One Arizona-California- Operation Buslift: First Greyhound bus leaves El Centro, California bound for Nogales, Arizona. On board are detainees from the San Francisco regional detention center and and roadblock inspection captures. 28 buses transport 1,008 migrants to Arizona where they will be transferred into the interior of Mexico

June 17th- Phase Two of California to Arizona: Operation: Sweeps

The Agricultural regions of Arizona and Southern California become primary sweep targets. INS authorities employ the aid of farmers to reveal undocumented workers.

June 17th-July 26th

Through the assistance of local police, 4,403 people are rounded up. 64% of them were working in non-agricultural jobs.

June 20

Sweeps continue throughout the Central Valley of California through bases set up in Fresno and Sacramento

June 24th

Bill 3660 and Bill 3661 are proposed in both houses of Congress with the intent to dissuade employers and smugglers from employing/bringing in illegal immigrants. Neither bill passed.

July 3rd

The first mobile task force is dispatched in McAllen, Texas. Their goal was to set up roadblock inspections, inspect trains, and dissuade any migrants from heading north.

July 15th

First day of complete operation in Texas with a focus on the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

September 3rd

First deportation by sea. The SS Emancipation and SS Vera Cruz sail the 2,000-mile voyage from Port Isabel, Texas to Veracruz, Mexico a total of 26 times. Both ships transport around 800 illegal immigrants per voyage.

September 18th

First airlift from Midwest begins. The deportees in Chicago are transported to Brownsville Texas. More airlifts arrive from Kansas City, Saint Louis, Memphis and Dallas. From here, the deportees are sent to Veracruz by sea.