Wetback (1944)

[Dave Hause]

Swim across at Juarez and turn left?
Dave Hause, dwhause at jobe.net
Waynesville, MO
----- Original Message -----
From: James A. Landau

On Thu 10/26/06 12:17 AM Barry Popik (Bapopik at AOL.COM) quoted the OED:

" 1972  Observer (Colour Suppl.) 28 May 28/1 Last year in California alone,
border patrols turned back
27,000 wetbacks (the contemptuous name derives from their practice of
swimming
the Rio Grande to reach the US). "

Could someone please explain how one can get from Mexico to California by
swimming the the Rio Grande?
      - Jim Landau

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