Wetback (slur)
Encyclopedia
"Wetback" is a person of any foreign nationality, the usual being a Mexican
who are illegal immigrants
in the United States. Generally used as an ethnic slur, the term was originally coined and applied only to Mexicans who entered Texas
by crossing the Rio Grande
river, which is the Mexican border, presumably by swimming or wading across and getting wet in the process. Its Spanish term is mojado which means "wet". The word has now broadened and is now used to refer to any foreign nationality immigrating illegally to the U.S.
Alternatively, the term refers to early use of Mexican laborers as farm workers. Farm supervisors could tell who was working hard by the amount of sweat produced. A 'wetback' indicated a hard worker.
The first mention of the term in The New York Times
is dated June 20, 1920. It was used officially by the US government
in 1954, with Operation Wetback
, a project where a large number of Mexican nationals were deported
.
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
who are illegal immigrants
Illegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
in the United States. Generally used as an ethnic slur, the term was originally coined and applied only to Mexicans who entered Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
by crossing the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
river, which is the Mexican border, presumably by swimming or wading across and getting wet in the process. Its Spanish term is mojado which means "wet". The word has now broadened and is now used to refer to any foreign nationality immigrating illegally to the U.S.
Alternatively, the term refers to early use of Mexican laborers as farm workers. Farm supervisors could tell who was working hard by the amount of sweat produced. A 'wetback' indicated a hard worker.
The first mention of the term in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
is dated June 20, 1920. It was used officially by the US government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
in 1954, with Operation Wetback
Operation Wetback
Operation Wetback was a 1954 operation by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service to remove illegal immigrants, mostly Mexican nationals from the southwestern United States.-History:...
, a project where a large number of Mexican nationals were deported
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
.
- RacismRacismRacism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
- Operation WetbackOperation WetbackOperation Wetback was a 1954 operation by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service to remove illegal immigrants, mostly Mexican nationals from the southwestern United States.-History:...
- Anti-Mexican sentimentAnti-Mexican sentimentAnti-Mexican sentiment is a fear, distrust, stereotype, hostility and aversion of people of Mexican descent, Mexican culture and/or the Spanish language...
- HispanophobiaHispanophobiaHispanophobia is a fear, distrust, aversion, or discrimination of Hispanic people, Hispanic culture and the Spanish language. Its opposite is Hispanophilia...