1. Contemporary Immigration Issues
US History
4/25/12

2. The Bracero Program
Since end of Civil War, growers depended on migrant workers to pick crops in Southwest and California
During WWII, lack of migrant workers since so many had been drafted as soldiers or now working in wartime factories
Bracero Program--started by US and Mexican governments to allow Mexicans to come to US temporarily to pick crops and perform other manual labor
4 million Mexicans participated in program until its end in 1964

3. Bracero Program ctnd.
When contract done, braceros returned to Mexico, although many stayed undocumented and worked as migrant workers
Farm owners supported program because source of cheap labor
Civil Rights workers in 1960s began to protest ways migrant workers treated

4. Mexican Immigration
1950s--Millions of Mexicans began immigrating to US
Most came legally, some without documents
More came to California than any other state
Today, Latinos are the largest minority group in US, will eventually be majority population in CA
Most live in cities, but still some migrant workers
Increase in Latino immigration has increased number of Catholics in US 

5. Changes to Immigration Policy
Before US had relaxed immigration policy, relatively easy to come
Except exclusion of Chinese 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
In 1920s, immigration quotas--limited number of immigrants from each country
National Origins Act
Especially restricted immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe, virtually no Asians allowed

6. President Johnson and Immigration Reform
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
Quotas no longer by country, but by hemisphere
Refugees and immigrants with special job skills given preference
Made it easier for immigrants from Asia and Latin America to come to US
Number of immigrants from these regions has dramatically increased since 1960s!

7. Recent Immigration Reforms
Laws passed in 1980s to discourage employers from hiring undocumented immigrants
Did give amnesty to some undocumented people
In 1990s, increased quotas again, letting more immigrants in, but continued to get stricter against undocumented immigrants
Debate over immigration and issue of undocumented immigrants continues today