Interviewee

Elías Espino

Interviewer

Myrna Parra-Mantilla

Project

Bracero Oral History

Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee

Elías Espino was born in Meoqui, Chihuahua, México, in 1929; his mother was a housewife and his father was a carpenter; he attended school for only a short time; he worked in construction until he was fourteen years old; in 1942, he learned of the Bracero Program and immigrated to the United States.

Summary of Interview

Mr. Espino was first hired in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he worked for a year; during his time as a bracero he worked in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Arizona; he recounts his difficulties while working illegally; he also recalls the percentage the Mexican government received from the United States for each bracero worker; he lead a protest to stop the delousing process for braceros entering the United States; in addition, he also remembers that the Bracero Program was suspended for an entire year in 1959.

Date of Interview

6-12-2003

Length of Interview

42 minutes

Tape Number

No. 967

Transcript Number

No. 967

Length of Transcript

22 pages

Interview Number

No. 967

Terms of Use

Unrestricted

Comments

Interview in Spanish.

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