Interviewer
Verónica Cortez
Project
Bracero Oral History
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Alejo López was born July 17, 1933, on a ranch in Calvillo, Aguascalientes, México; he was the fourth born of his ten siblings; his formal education extended through the third grade; as a young boy, he worked in the fields; when he was thirteen years old, his mother died; a year later his father remarried; one of his older brothers enlisted in the bracero program, and in 1954, Alejo also joined; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of California, cleaning, pruning and picking asparagus, lettuce, strawberries and tomatoes; during the 1980s, he immigrated to the United States.
Summary of Interview
Mr. López briefly talks about his family; one of his older brothers enlisted in the bracero program, and in 1954, Alejo also joined; to begin the contracting process, he went through the center in Mexicali, Baja California, México, where he was stripped and examined; moreover, he offers a detailed description of the exams he endured; he later went through the center in Empalme, Sonora, México; from there he was transported by train to Mexicali, where he was deloused like an animal; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of California, cleaning, pruning and picking asparagus, lettuce, strawberries and tomatoes; he goes on to detail the various worksites, housing, accommodations, amenities, provisions, duties, routines, treatment, payment, deductions, remittances, contract lengths and renewals and trips into town; one of his foremen was a Filipino who often praised him for his excellent work; some Japanese men also worked with the braceros in the fields; they did not speak to each other due to the language barrier; on some occasions, immigration officials checked documents at the camps, and those without papers would run and hide; while working in the Imperial Valley, his brother would pick him, another brother and a cousin up and take them to visit in Mexicali; it was always easier for Alejo when he had family with him, because he was not as lonely; he also talks about his life after the program; later, during the 1980s, he immigrated to the United States; overall, he has positive memories of his experiences as a bracero.
Date of Interview
5-26-2006
Length of Interview
43 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1082
Transcript Number
No. 1082
Length of Transcript
33 pages
Interview Number
No. 1082
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Alejo López by Verónica Cortez, 2006, "Interview no. 1082," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Interview in Spanish.