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 August 26, 2005
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 September 22, 2005
Webacks are illegal immigrants from Mexico. They take all the minimun wage jobs leaving US citizens unemployed. I'm not racist don't get me wrong I just think it's unfair that American citizens are losing jobs to illegals.
US guy: Hi I'd like to get a job flipping burgers.
Mcdonalds employer: Sorry we only fire illegal immigrants.
US guy: Damn wetbacks.
Mcdonalds employer: Sorry we only fire illegal immigrants.
US guy: Damn wetbacks.
by performance enhancing drugs October 29, 2006
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 15, 2009
A race of people who all look alike,multiply like rabbits, and work for minimal pay. They also look like George Lopez
by SploogeBalls November 07, 2007
Can have two definitions, both have a derogatory meaning towards mexicans:
1. an illegal immigrant who swims across a river to get to America.
2. a mexican whose back gets sweaty because he works all day, and his back gets wet.
1. an illegal immigrant who swims across a river to get to America.
2. a mexican whose back gets sweaty because he works all day, and his back gets wet.
"That wetback is working out in the yard."
by amitchell February 12, 2008