MEXICO: The Bracero Returns

Early one morning last week Canute Linerio, a Solemn Indian of 46, set out again for Mexico City to look for work. Leaving his wife Margarita and two children, José, 10, and Consuelo, 13, in their tiny casita on the outskirts of Toluca, Canute boarded the Red Arrow bus, paid 31¢ fare to ride in to the capital. There, as he had done before, he read the "advices of opportunity" in the newspapers, spelling each word out slowly to himself.

He went to construction jobs, offered his services as an albañil, or bricklayer. At last he landed a temporary job at...