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Mexican Government Pledges To Work With Former Braceros Owed Compensation

October 11, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to a letter that Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) sent to Mexican Congressman Isidro Pedraza Chavez, the President of the Special Commission of Exbraceros, Pedraza stated in a press conference on Tuesday, October 9th that he will help to coordinate efforts to have the Mexican Consulates within the United States assist the former braceros that are still awaiting their compensation for participating in the Bracero Program from 1942-1964 and advocate to allocate funds so they can receive their due payments.

The letter was spearheaded by Costa and Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona), after a request received by Costa's office from former braceros residing in Costa's district, and the former braceros' representative in the United States, Mr. Leonel Flores.

The Mexican Congressman Isidro Pedraza pledged work on the concerns raised by Costa, including the need for more clarification for former braceros living in the United States as to how they can be included in the National Bracero Registry to claim their due compensation.

"This is a big step for former bracero workers," said Costa. "We will have to continue to work to ensure this compensation is received, but I am happy that my Mexican colleagues are willing to work on this issue with me."

"The intervention of the Representative Jim Costa and the 17 other Congressional Hispanic Caucus members that signed the letter has been very important; now it is the responsibility of the president of the Executive office in Mexico to pursue this further through the Mexican Foreign Relations Department" said Leonel Flores.

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