d to the agricultural industry, but more of the higher- skill industries were crying out for immigrant workers as well.Before World War II, areas like aircraft manufacturing, shipbuilding and other higher-paying occupations were limited to American men only. During the war many Mexicans were hired by these industries. World War II can even be seen as a pivotal point in the history of the Mexican immigrant. With the Bracero program and the ending of discrimination in certain industries America again saw a change in attitude and policy toward Mexican immigrants due to economic factors. The U.S. changed its immigration policy in order to help its own economy by allowing Mexicans to work legally when only a decade before, Mexicans were being deported. The Bracero Program was just another example of the economy influencing U.S. policy and like before the trend of passive immigration was no to last.As the war came to an end, so did the demand for high numbers of workers. Also, the soldiers returning from over seas would need jobs therefore the need for the Bracero program was over. Once again the public’s eye was on the number of immigrants that were present in the U.S. at the time. The Government again took actions to help curtail immigration. “Arguments set forth by anti-wetback groups in support of penalty legislation were given added credence by the economic slump the United States experienced in 1953” (Garcia 158). One measure that was attempted was S.3360 which penalized employers of illegal aliens. Another idea that was actually carried out was “Operation Wetback”.In 1954 measure S.3360 was introduced to the senate. It was a measure that would penalize those who used undocumented immigrant workers. This law would discourage business men from hiring illegal labor. The hope of this measure would be that it would discourage illegal aliens from applying for jobs and would therefore reduce the num...
