Why don’t Mexican workers migrate anymore?
As I read the world news and zero in on what is happening in our Valley, especially with the Mexican border and illegal immigrants, I am reminded of how we used to see old school buses (painted white) back in the 1940s and 50s as we traveled between southern California (where our parents lived) and Bakersfield and Fresno. These buses were unmarked but they carried a full load of Mexican men.
We learned later that these men were on the way to new jobs for the summer to work in the fields, vineyards, orchards, wherever needed in our Valley. Farmers were prepared for them by building small but comfortable cabins on their property for each to live in as long as they worked for them.
The pay was quite good and they earned a good amount to take home to their families in Mexico.
They were transported from their Mexican homes to the Valley and back in the fall for free.
Why did this successful plan end? Why can’t it still work for us today?
Not only would it help the Mexican men to earn a living for the year, but it would do away with them crossing our border illegally, drug smuggling and urban crime.
Bess Whitney, Fresno
This story was originally published September 26, 2016 at 11:54 AM with the headline "Why don’t Mexican workers migrate anymore?."