[Imc-cleveland] Cleveland: Lessons from the Bracero Guest Worker Program Speaking Tour

[Emily O'Neill]

Greetings from the Mexico Solidarity Network,

In the spirit of continuing to promote democracy, human rights, and social
justice in the U.S. and Mexico, our organization is planning a speaking
tour.  Our Ex-Bracero tour will be going through Michigan and Ohio October
22nd-November 4th and we are looking for hosts and venues for speaking
events.  I’ve attached more information about the focus of the tour below.
If you are interested in hosting an event or know other
people/organizations/student or community groups that may be, please contact
me.

I look forward to hearing from you to discuss arranging a forum for dialogue
in your community.

In Solidarity,
Emily O’Neill

Mexico Solidarity Network
4834 N. Springfield
Chicago, IL 60625
www.mexicosolidarity.org
msn at mexicosolidarity.org

Lessons for Immigration Policy:  The Bracero Guest Worker Program
As the immigration debate rages in the halls of Congress and in streets
across the country, it is helpful to review lessons from the past.
President Bush and many Republicans are busy promoting reform measures
similar to the post-World War II Bracero program, in which migrant workers
were little more than indentured servants with contracts depended upon
specific employers.  Workers were vulnerable to extreme exploitation and
were unable to negotiate the terms of their employment.  Under these
contracts, the US government withheld 10% of their wages, allegedly for a
retirement fund that "encouraged" Braceros to return to Mexico.  But the
money disappeared - billions of dollars lost either to corrupt US bankers or
Mexican government officials.
Thousands of ex-Braceros are organized to demand their retirement funds.
Recently, the Mexican government agreed to pay US $4,000 to Braceros who are
registered with a government agency, a small pittance in comparison to the
billions that rightly belong to these senior citizens.  The ex-Braceros are
demanding full justice, but the US and Mexican governments turn a deaf ear.
The need for full repayment is urgent as most ex-Braceros are now over 70
years old.
The Mexico Solidarty Network invites community, faith and university-based
groups to host a series of events about immigrant rights and immigration
policy.
This tour will:
·	Hear directly from an ex-Bracero from Tlaxcala, Mexico, where nearly
10,000 are now organized in the National Assembly of ex-Braceros,
·	Discuss the historic impact of guest worker programs in the US and their
struggle to recuperate lost wages.
·	A representative from the Mexico Solidarity Network will provide
additional social and economic context, and will discuss strategies on how
we can work together at the grassroots level to demand justice that is long
overdue!