A derogatory term used to describe Mexicans who have immigrated illegally to the United States by swimming or wading across the Rio Grande--the river that separates the U.S. from Mexico. U.S. Border Patrol began using the word in 1944 to refer to illegal Mexican immigrants who were easily identifiable by their wet clothing. Today the term "wetback" is often used to express animosity towards Central American or Latin American immigrants--legal and illegal--who do not speak English. Meanwhile, in an attempt to reclaim the word, some Mexican-Americans call themselves Los Mojados, meaning "the wet ones."
Cindy: "Hey, have you heard that Rosa's parents came to Florida illegally???"
Mindy: "Yeah... total wetbacks. God, why can't they just go back to Mexico??? They don't belong here."
Mindy: "Yeah... total wetbacks. God, why can't they just go back to Mexico??? They don't belong here."
by Lance's Buddy February 29, 2008
Get the Wetback mug.Also wet back. A slang term for those of Mexican heritage, especially illegal aliens. This slur stems from the fact that illegal Mexicans usually swim rivers to cross into other countries, hence the term wet back.
Those wetbacks are mowing my lawn.
by ian November 15, 2006
Get the wetback mug.Related Words
Get the WetBack mug.your mom is a wetback
by super mega bro bro March 1, 2008
Get the wetback mug.Racial Slur refering to Mexicans. The term originates from Operation Wetback.
In 1949 the Border Patrol seized nearly 280,000 illegal immigrants. By 1953, the numbers had grown to more than 865,000, and the U.S. government felt pressured to do something about the onslaught of immigration. What resulted was Operation Wetback, devised in 1954 under the supervision of new commissioner of the Immigration and Nationalization Service, Gen. Joseph Swing.
Swing oversaw the Border patrol, and organized state and local officials along with the police. The object of his intense border enforcement were "illegal aliens," but common practice of Operation Wetback focused on Mexicans in general. The police swarmed through Mexican American barrios throughout the southeastern states. Some Mexicans, fearful of the potential violence of this militarization, fled back south across the border. In 1954, the agents discovered over 1 million illegal immigrants.
In some cases, illegal immigrants were deported along with their American-born children, who were by law U.S. citizens. The agents used a wide brush in their criteria for interrogating potential aliens. They adopted the practice of stopping "Mexican-looking" citizens on the street and asking for identification. This practice incited and angered many U.S. citizens who were of Mexican American descent. Opponents in both the United States and Mexico complained of "police-state" methods, and Operation Wetback was abandoned.
In 1949 the Border Patrol seized nearly 280,000 illegal immigrants. By 1953, the numbers had grown to more than 865,000, and the U.S. government felt pressured to do something about the onslaught of immigration. What resulted was Operation Wetback, devised in 1954 under the supervision of new commissioner of the Immigration and Nationalization Service, Gen. Joseph Swing.
Swing oversaw the Border patrol, and organized state and local officials along with the police. The object of his intense border enforcement were "illegal aliens," but common practice of Operation Wetback focused on Mexicans in general. The police swarmed through Mexican American barrios throughout the southeastern states. Some Mexicans, fearful of the potential violence of this militarization, fled back south across the border. In 1954, the agents discovered over 1 million illegal immigrants.
In some cases, illegal immigrants were deported along with their American-born children, who were by law U.S. citizens. The agents used a wide brush in their criteria for interrogating potential aliens. They adopted the practice of stopping "Mexican-looking" citizens on the street and asking for identification. This practice incited and angered many U.S. citizens who were of Mexican American descent. Opponents in both the United States and Mexico complained of "police-state" methods, and Operation Wetback was abandoned.
by Alex M R September 18, 2005
Get the wetback mug.usually refering to an illegal imigrant form t.j. wetbacks are commonly found drinking cervesa under shade trees, or sleeping on the john, to escape from duing any work. or drivng 45 mph on the freeway, with the cars muffler, if provided. dragging on the ground shooting sparks at the million people stuck behind him that have jobs to get to. wetbacks are also known for weairng out of date t shirts from the goodwill. It's not uncommon to see a 250lb male wetback wearing a pink shirt with "daddys litlle princess" printed on the front. wet backs usually become active after sunset due to the fact that the heat makes them so tired and sleepy. Never attempt any physicall alterations with a wetback everyone they know is literaly their cousin. and if you mess with one bean u mess with the whole burrito
white man- Hey... wetback, get back to work! Wetback -Que, what , i know i'm supposed to be mopping but i'm just so tired..... so sleepy
by some guy i don't know November 15, 2006
Get the wetback mug.Word meaning a Mexican who crossed the border going through the Colorado river. Everyone says a Mexican is a wet back just because they crossed when it should be those cubans that should be the wetbacks. Mexicans crossed a river but cubans crossed a fucking ocean!! Cubans are the wetbacks not mexicans.
Cuban: hello fellow beaner
Mexican: hello wetback
Cuban: I'm not a wetback your a wetback
Mexican: I crossed a river you crossed over an ocean. That makes you a wetback bitch.
Cuban: oh
Mexican: pendejo!!! And people call US stupid
Mexican: hello wetback
Cuban: I'm not a wetback your a wetback
Mexican: I crossed a river you crossed over an ocean. That makes you a wetback bitch.
Cuban: oh
Mexican: pendejo!!! And people call US stupid
by Lick my ass hole November 14, 2009
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