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Wetback Round-up (1954)

7/5/54

California - An intensive "wetback" round-up is the latest episode in the Immigration Department's incessant battle against migrant laborers who illegally ford the Rio Grande to work in the rich farm land around Stockton.

Volume 27 Number 584


This movie is part of the collection: Universal Newsreels

Sponsor: Universal
Audio/Visual: silent, black and white

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: esalkin - - January 24, 2006
Subject: Some things never change.
50+ years later and we still do not have a policy regarding South American immigration.

BTW. The term "wetback" originated from the practice of people crossing into the US via the Rio Grande and arriving in this country with a " wet back" as opposed to those who arrived high and dry via boat from other parts of the world. It quickly became derogatory term.

Lack of sound really hurts this film's value.

Reviewer: Wilford B. Wolf - - May 1, 2005
Subject: Structural racism
There is a real shame that this particular film is missing the soundtrack, but I would be fascinated to hear what sort of langauge the narration used. The title card alone, using the term "wetback," suggests a blantantly racist slant to the language used.

This film still provides important footage from the 1950s regarding the periodic round up of Mexican and other Hispanic immigrants who come to Texas and California, looking for work. This clearly shows the other side of the Janus-like nature of simulateously attracting migrant workers (see "Why Braceros" or "The Truck Farmer") and deporting them.