February 6, 1949
Grover C. Wilmoth, director of El Paso Immigration and Naturalization District, has had figures compiled disclosing that 1112 known Juarez residents work in El Paso and vicinity. Of that number, approximately 600 are American citizens living in Juarez.
The statistics were gathered in response to an anonymous letter, complaining that local jobs were hard to find because of so many Juarez workers. The typewritten letter was signed merely “American Citizens Mothers.” Wilmoth rarely pays any attention to letters which do not carry signatures of their authors, but this was one he thought should receive some sort of a reply.
The 1112 workers are entitled to be employed in El Paso under U.S. laws and regulations.
Merrill R. Toole, immigration inspector in charge of the Santa Fe Street International bridge, said there were others who have been found improperly working in the U.S. where their crossing privileges were withdrawn.
Toole explained this class of local crossers was know as non-immigrants, who were not entitled to work here.
CROSSING CARDS ISSUED
“Several thousand residents of Juarez,” he said “have been provided with non-immigrant crossing cards which permit them to come to El Paso to shop or visit – but not to work. When they are found working, their crossing privilege is withdrawn.”
Wilmoth said if and when his office is apprised of any alien unlawfully working in the U.S. immediate steps will be taken to remedy that situation.
Immigration authorities said there were two classes of Juarez residents entitled to work in the U.S. “Aliens who have obtained immigration visas from American consuls, paid a head tax and are eligible to reside in the country, if they so desire.”
Toole said a number of these prefer to live in Mexico and work in the U.S. and, under the law, they can do this, provided they do not relinquish the work privilege for a period of six months.
Concerning this class, Toole said, there were 512 such alien immigrants residing in Juarez and coming daily, or frequently, to El Paso to work. This number was divided by him as follows: Domestic servants, 334; laborers, 76; skilled laborers, 22; janitors and yard men, 35; factory workers, 23; store clerks and officer workers, 14, and mechanics, eight.
The second class of Juarez residents entitled to work in the U.S. are listed under the head of American citizens.
DUAL CITIZENSHIP
“Although of Mexican descent,” Toole said, “these American citizens may come and go at will, as any other American citizen. It is probable that they are permitted by Mexican authorities to reside in Juarez because they have dual citizenship. Most of them were born in the United States and at the time of their birth their parents were citizens of Mexico, for which reason Mexico recognizes them to be likewise citizens of that country.”
Toole estimated there were about 600 of that class residing in Juarez and working in El Paso and said those may be occupationally classified just about the same as the alien immigrant worker.
The precise letter responsible for the statistics on workers and addressed to “Chief of Immigration, Santa Fe Bridge,” read:
“This is just a report from men and women of El Paso on all the people who come from Juarez to El Paso to work. We ladies and residents of the United States, some of us have been looking for a job. And all factories, commerce stores and restaurants are full of Juarez people, the owners of the establishments instead of giving preference to El Paso people they give the preference to Juarez people. We American citizens mothers, because we have our children to support, our rent and other bills, we appreciate your protections. And our husbands are out of work too.
“The Juarez people come to work and ask the patrons to pay them $2 or $3 and with that amount they get rich and we people from El Paso can’t live on that amount. We know that almost all of the Juarez people work here in El Paso on local passports. The situation of El Paso people has been hard on account of so many Juarez people. So, please do something in this case and help resident citizens.
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