ortage of agricultural workers in the United States, and pooreconomic conditions in Mexico. "It was devised so that Mexicans could be sent to work in selected agricultural areas ofthe United States under a series of bilateral agreements between the two countries" (Miller 29). Each Mexican state was given a quota for the number of those to be contracted from their state. Workers were thenbrought to recruitment centers. The Mexicans who were accepted at these centers were turned over to the U.S.Department of Labor, who placed the workers in U.S. farms. The number of contracts issued was far less than that of Mexicans wanting to come over. "For example, in 1945 thenumber of permits given by the Mexican government totaled 104,541 but only 49,454 contracts were issued by the U.S.Department of Labor" (Miller 30). After World War II the U.S. demand for Mexican immigrants increased. "Of a total of 4.6 million contracts issued duringthe life of the program around 72 percent were printed between 1955 and 1964" (Miller 30). Two related controversies created opposition to the program. In 1948 the United States opened its border to severalthousand Mexicans because of a labor shortage. "The Mexican government was upset over this and considered takingaction for damages inflected along its Northern border due to an uncontrollable exodus of border resident laborers"(Miller 30). The United States apologized and the two sides were at peace. On January 15, 1954, the United States said all Braceros were to be contracted until the U.S. and Mexican governmentscame to a new agreement on the program. Mexico responded by not letting laborers be contracted legally by the UnitedStates. Large groups of Mexicans did not take the demands seriously and gathered at border cities, wanting to enter theUnited States. The Mexicans brought troops to the cities trying to disband the crowds. When Mexican President RuizCortinez heard the event was leading to domestic crises he...
