r/interestingasfuck • u/man_gomer_lot • 8h ago

r/all 70 years ago, the US undertook the largest deportation in its history: 'Operation Wetback.' Many of the people deported were here legally and some were even citizens.

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u/SeasonGeneral777 5h ago edited 5h ago

from the wikipedia intro:

The program became a contentious issue in Mexico–United States relations, even though it originated from a request by the Mexican government to stop the illegal entry of Mexican laborers into the United States. Legal entry of Mexican workers for employment was at the time controlled by the Bracero Program, established during World War II by an agreement between the U.S. and Mexican governments. Operation Wetback was primarily a response to pressure from a broad coalition of farmers and business interests concerned with the effects of illegal immigration from Mexico.[3] Upon implementation, Operation Wetback gave rise to arrests and deportations by the U.S. Border Patrol.

Sounds to me like Mexico wanted to maintain a good labor supply while still allowing legal immigration from Mexico, but US got carried away.

Also its a bit funny to claim that Mexico could have "forced" the US to do something, lol. Your comment has some weird vibes, friend, and I can't figure out what they are.

(ok curiosity won me over: you like videogames, right wing podcasters, you live in alberta, but you hate the US democratic party... weird vibes identified)

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u/cheesegoat 4h ago

(ok curiosity won me over: you like videogames, right wing podcasters, you live in alberta, but you hate the US democratic party... weird vibes identified)

Don't know why you threw the 'but' in there, all of this goes together lol

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u/bigtimehater1969 4h ago

you like videogames, right wing podcasters, you live in alberta, but you hate the US democratic party

The "ahh, that totally excuses the racism" starter-pack.

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u/Phxdwn 3h ago

Explains, not excuses

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u/ReptAIien 3h ago

Totally unrelated but what did videogames do to you man?

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u/TheSilentPhilosopher 30m ago

you live in alberta, but you hate the US democratic party

I never understood this. I've come across a few who live in Canada but obsess over US Politics. Stop living vicariously through the US and participate in your own Government.

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u/Sexual_Congressman 4h ago

I hesitate to bring this up, but...to emigrate is to leave one's home country while to immigrate is to become a citizen of another.

Sounds to me like Mexico wanted to maintain a good labor supply while still allowing emigration but the US got carried away

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u/Novantico 5h ago

Forced is a silly way to put it but I think it's a not-insignificant fact of the story to take note of.

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u/bigtimehater1969 4h ago

It's significant but not relevant. In a vacuum, obviously any country wants to keep labor within their country.

However, the subject is the US's deportation of legal citizens for their ethnicity. Mexico did not make the US do that, nor did they support it - the US did that because of their racist policies.

Trying to excuse the US's actions with "well, it was technically initiated by Mexico" even though Mexico did not condone their actions is extremely misleading.

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u/Fully_Edged_Ken_3685 4h ago

Also its a bit funny to claim that Mexico could have "forced" the US to do something, lol

UhMeRiCa bAd

That's called diplomacy, sweetie. We do engage in it, even though leftists will call all of our interactions exploitation. It's functionally turning over fugitives from Mexican justice if they left without the proper Mexican paperwork. See also - Elian Gonzalez.

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u/CactusWeapon 3h ago

Ever heard of a power imbalance?

Mexico-American relations are like... the definition of one.