Abandoning Their Beloved Land: The Politics of Bracero Migration in Mexico

Abandoning Their Beloved Land provides a new history of the Bracero Program, revealing how political factors, Catholic opposition, and agrarian reform influenced the program's administration and individuals' decisions to migrate.

Format: Hardback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 17 January 2023
Publisher: University of California Press

Abandoning Their Beloved Land provides a vital new history of the Bracero Program, a bilateral initiative that allowed Mexican men to work in the United States as seasonal contract farmworkers from 1942 to 1964. Historian Alberto García delves into previously unexplored political factors that shaped the program's direction, including how officials administered the bracero selection process and what motivated campesinos from central states to migrate. Notably, García's book reveals how and why the Mexican government's delegation of Bracero Program-related responsibilities, the powerful influence of conservative Catholic opposition groups in central Mexico, and the failures of the revolution's agrarian reform all profoundly influenced the program's administration and individuals' decisions to migrate as braceros.

The Bracero Program, a bilateral initiative that allowed Mexican men to work in the United States as seasonal contract farmworkers from 1942 to 1964, is explored in depth in Alberto García's essential new book, Abandoning Their Beloved Land. García, a historian, uncovered previously unexamined political factors that shaped the program's direction by utilizing national and local archives in Mexico. These factors include how officials administered the bracero selection process, the powerful influence of conservative Catholic opposition groups in central Mexico, and the failures of the revolution's agrarian reform.

The Mexican government's delegation of Bracero Program-related responsibilities played a significant role in shaping the program. The government delegated the management of the program to private contractors, who were responsible for recruiting and transporting braceros to the United States. However, the government's lack of oversight and accountability led to corruption and abuse, with contractors exploiting braceros and paying them low wages.

Conservative Catholic opposition groups in central Mexico also had a powerful influence on the program. These groups opposed the program on moral and religious grounds, arguing that it violated the sanctity of human labor and undermined the traditional Mexican family. They organized protests, boycotts, and other forms of resistance to the program, which ultimately led to its termination in 1964.

The failures of the revolution's agrarian reform also played a role in shaping the program. The Mexican revolution, which took place in the early 20th century, aimed to redistribute land and wealth to the rural poor. However, the reform failed to achieve its goals, leaving many campesinos in poverty and without access to land. As a result, many campesinos from central states migrated to the United States as braceros in search of better economic opportunities.

The Bracero Program had a profound impact on both Mexico and the United States. It provided a source of cheap labor for American farmers, who were facing labor shortages during World War II. However, it also led to the exploitation and abuse of braceros, who were often subjected to poor working conditions and living conditions. The program also contributed to the cultural and social integration of Mexican Americans, who were able to work alongside their Mexican counterparts and learn about American culture.

In conclusion, Abandoning Their Beloved Land provides a valuable new perspective on the Bracero Program, shedding light on the political, social, and economic factors that shaped its administration and impact. García's book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of immigration, labor, and the United States-Mexico relationship.

Weight: 472g
Dimension: 235 x 158 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520390225