Interviewer
Richard Baquera
Project
Bracero Oral History Project
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Socorro Perez was born and raised in El Paso, Texas; in 1954, she began working as a clerk and typist at Rio Vista, a bracero processing center in Socorro, Texas; she continued working there until 1957, and she later went on to become a teacher in the Ysleta and Socorro Independent School Districts.
Summary of Interview
Ms. Perez recalls how she spent her childhood and adolescence moving around in El Paso; after graduating from high school, her uncle, who worked for the employment commission, informed her that there were job openings at the local immigration offices; she applied and went through the hiring process; upon being hired in 1954, she began working as a clerk and typist at Rio Vista, a bracero processing center in Socorro, Texas; she describes what her duties consisted of while working there and the kinds of questions she asked the braceros; her observations of the braceros led her to conclude that they were humble people, and that more often than not, they were taken advantage of; she goes on to describe why she stopped working there in 1957; later, in 1972, she went back to working for immigration, but only part-time; she ends with general comments and observations about the braceros.
Date of Interview
3-3-2003
Length of Interview
82 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1564
Transcript Number
No. 1564
Length of Transcript
30 pages
Transcriber
Vanessa Macias
Interview Number
No. 1564
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Socorro Perez by Richard Baquera, 2003, "Interview no. 1564," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.