Give Braceros Back Their Money

When George W. Bush and Vicente Fox meet in San Cristobal, Mexico, 10 days from now, immigration issues will be at the top of the agenda. But as the two presidents and their teams try to shape new ideas on this old and troublesome topic, it would be wise for them to learn from the past.

The Mexican leader and a number of U.S. senators already are exploring the possibility of a new guest worker program that would provide jobs for Mexicans north of the border in an orderly program. At the same time, both governments should clean the slate on millions of dollars owed to workers who participated in the old bracero program.

The story of this injustice began in 1942, when the United States was fighting World War II and the military call-up left the nation short of farm and railroad labor. Washington signed successive agreements with the Mexican government that allowed hundreds of thousands of laborers to work in the United States, a program that ultimately lasted until 1964.

Included in the workers’ contracts was a savings fund; 10% of each worker’s pay was deducted by his employer and transferred through the U.S. government to Mexico’s central bank. Between 1942 and 1949, at least 300,000 braceros were hired and at least $32 million was withheld from their wages, according to U.S. records.

The Mexicans should have been able to withdraw their savings, averaging $106 per worker, upon returning to their homeland. But many, now in their 70s or 80s, complain that they never received anything. That the deductions were made is verified in the pay receipts kept by some former braceros or their relatives. But to date nobody has given them or their heirs a sound explanation of what happened to the money.

Now, after decades, the Mexican Congress has agreed to launch an investigation. Washington should begin a probe on this side of the border as well.

The bracero program had its share of other, larger abuses, but at least the lost deductions are something that can be restored to workers or their heirs--and should be.