Socorro to break ground on Bracero worker museum

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — The City of Socorro will break ground this week on a Bracero Museum, which will honor and remember Mexican workers who filled labor shortages in the U.S. during and after World War II.

The ground-breaking event will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the Rio Vista Community Center, 900 N. Rio Vista Road.

“This Bracero Museum, which will be the first of its kind in the region, celebrates the Braceros’ contributions to the local and national economy. The museum marks a key milestone in Socorro’s historic preservation efforts. It will serve as an educational and cultural institution, ensuring their stories are preserved for future generations. The Bracero Program was a critical part of the U.S. labor force, from 1942 to 1964, bringing millions of Mexican workers to fill labor shortages in agriculture and railroads during and after World War II,” the City of Socorro said in a news release.

“These workers, known as Braceros, played a vital role in sustaining the American economy during a time of need, providing skilled labor that helped shape the agricultural industry. Their hard work, resilience, and contributions are still felt today, especially in communities like Socorro and El Paso County, where many Braceros settled, leaving a lasting cultural and economic legacy,” the City of Socorro added.

This summer, the site where the museum will be built was designated as an official National Historic Landmark, recognizing the history and contribution of the Braceros and the Bracero Program.

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