Cornelio Soto Ramírez
Title
Cornelio Soto Ramírez
Description
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Cornelio Soto was born on September 16, 1938, in San Pedro de Azfranes, Durango, México; he was the youngest of five brothers; his father died nine days after he was born; he worked as a bracero from 1956 to 1960 in California; during this time, he cultivated and irrigated cotton, lettuce, onions, sugar beets, and tomatoes.
Summary of Interview: Mr. Soto grew up in Otáez, Durango, México; economic hardship led him to leave the country in the 1950s; after working for two years at the México-U.S. border, he became a bracero in 1956; he describes how he survived in Empalme, Sonora, México while waiting to go through the processing center, how he got his first bracero contract, and his trip to the border; additionally, he explains the bracero hiring process, the medical exams he endured, the reception center in California, and his trip to a farm; he details their daily activities, their housing, their wages, their hobbies, and the food they ate; furthermore, he remembers working in a kitchen, as well as the treatment he received from foremen; he relates how he gained the trust of the foreman and how he became second in command; moreover, he also recollects his loneliness and his decision to return to México; this decision made him miss the opportunity to become a legal U.S. resident, but allowed him to start his own business; he explains why he believes the bracero program should still be in operation and how the experience changed his life.
Summary of Interview: Mr. Soto grew up in Otáez, Durango, México; economic hardship led him to leave the country in the 1950s; after working for two years at the México-U.S. border, he became a bracero in 1956; he describes how he survived in Empalme, Sonora, México while waiting to go through the processing center, how he got his first bracero contract, and his trip to the border; additionally, he explains the bracero hiring process, the medical exams he endured, the reception center in California, and his trip to a farm; he details their daily activities, their housing, their wages, their hobbies, and the food they ate; furthermore, he remembers working in a kitchen, as well as the treatment he received from foremen; he relates how he gained the trust of the foreman and how he became second in command; moreover, he also recollects his loneliness and his decision to return to México; this decision made him miss the opportunity to become a legal U.S. resident, but allowed him to start his own business; he explains why he believes the bracero program should still be in operation and how the experience changed his life.
Creator
Martínez, Laureano
Soto Ramírez, Cornelio
Date
2003-03-18
Subject
Bracero
Contributor
Cristóbal Borges
Rights
Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
Language
spa
title (Spanish)
Cornelio Soto Ramírez
creator (Spanish)
Martínez, Laureano
contributor (Spanish)
Cristóbal A. Borges
Rights Holder
Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
Interviewer
Martínez, Laureano
Interviewee
Soto Ramírez, Cornelio
Location
Durango, DUrango, México
Original Format
Mini Disc
Duration
1:55:40
Bit Rate/Frequency
24 bit
96 k
96 k
File Name Identifier
Soto_Ramirez_DGO032
Citation
Martínez, Laureano and Soto Ramírez, Cornelio, “Cornelio Soto Ramírez,” Bracero History Archive, accessed October 31, 2025, https://braceroarchive.org/items/show/192.