My father was among many Mexicans who participated in the Bracero Program during the 1940s and 1950s. The program, born out of a desperate need to address labor shortages during World War II, promised workers like my father a better life, access to jobs, improved wages and the possibility of a dignified existence.
The harsh reality he and thousands of others encountered was far from the promises made to them. Instead of a better life, they found themselves in a system of exploitation, discrimination and dehumanization.
The conditions were harsh. Workers experienced extended hours in the sun, contact with chemicals and substandard living conditions. The promises of better wages and improved lives were seldom fulfilled.
When the program ended in 1964, my father, like many others, was discarded and sent back to Mexico once their labor had been exploited. The damage didn’t end there. The legacy of the Bracero Program continues to shape how migrant workers, especially those in the Central Valley, are treated today.
As we examine the current situation, a concerning pattern is emerging. Today, politicians from the Central Valley, such as Reps. Adam Gray (D–Merced), Jim Costa (D–Fresno) and David Valadao (R–Hanford), are advocating for temporary guest worker visa programs instead of permanent residency for the millions of long-term undocumented workers in the nation.
These workers, like my father, are often viewed as disposable; their value is tied to their labor, rather than their humanity or contributions to society. Temporary visa programs such as H-2A and H-2B are the modern-day versions of the Bracero Program, continuing to exploit the labor of immigrant workers while denying them the rights, dignity and protection they deserve.
The reality for these workers is that they live in a state of perpetual fear. Their legal status is tied to their job, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, poor living conditions and the constant threat of deportation.
Politicians in the Central Valley continue to support these temporary visa programs because migrant labor is essential to the agricultural, construction and service industries. Yet, this solution fails to address the growing needs of the people who form the backbone of our economy.
Many of these workers have lived in the United States for years, contributing to the economy, raising families and becoming integral parts of their communities. The question is, why are they still treated as outsiders?
The time has come for a real change. The workers in the Central Valley, especially those in the 13th, 21st and 22nd Congressional districts, are integral members of our communities, not merely temporary employees.
These workers deserve a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship, not more temporary work programs that perpetuate their vulnerability. Current and proposed policies don’t recognize their contributions, and they certainly don’t reflect the needs of the people in our communities.
Here’s where the disconnect becomes apparent. Gray, Costa and Valadao do not support these programs on behalf of most of their constituents. In CD13, 66% of the population is Hispanic; in CD21, 65%; and CD22, 73%. However, these members of Congress continue to push for policies that favor the interests of a small minority of farmers and agricultural employers while ignoring the voices and needs of most of their constituents—working-class Hispanics.
The reality is that these Congress members have lived lives of privilege. Their experiences growing up and values are worlds apart from those of many of their constituents. They are far removed from the struggles of immigrant workers in the Central Valley’s fields, factories and homes.
Their beliefs and values are misaligned with those of the people they represent. They make assumptions about what is best for us without genuinely understanding or listening to our stories, our struggles and the lived realities of the people in their districts.
Every person has a unique story. My father’s experience with the Bracero Program was one of hardship, exploitation and broken promises. Yet, it is not an isolated experience.
It is a shared story for many who came to this country seeking a better life, only to be treated as disposable commodities. Today, that same cycle of exploitation continues for many immigrant workers in the Central Valley, and it is time for a change.
Our representatives should support comprehensive immigration reform that ensures legal protection and enables workers to contribute fully to society rather than depend on temporary work programs that foster fear and uncertainty.
It is time to recognize the value of immigrant workers, not as temporary laborers but as integral members of our communities. They deserve to live without fear of deportation, to have access to healthcare and benefits, and to be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
The Bracero Program was a dark chapter in American labor history, but its legacy continues to shape how we treat migrant workers today. The policies supported by Gray, Costa and Valadao continue this history. These policies fail to offer real solutions to the challenges faced by immigrant workers and instead perpetuate a cycle of exploitation that my father and many others endured.
It is time for our elected officials to act in the interest of their constituents. These Congressional representatives need to recognize that most of their constituents are Hispanic, and their policies should reflect the needs and values of the people they represent.
The time for temporary solutions is over. We need policies that recognize and honor the contributions of immigrant workers by offering them permanent residency and a clear pathway to citizenship.
The lives of hardworking immigrant families are worth more than the status quo. We cannot continue to repeat the mistakes of the past. It is time for justice, recognition and change.
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Eliseo Gamino is president of the Central Valley Leadership Round Table.
