“a term that many in the Latino community find highly offensive”
FOR WHAT REASON!?
If you came to this nation LEGALLY, then it doesn’t apply to you!
I get your point. IMO they want the “illegal” term to be viewed as taboo like the n word is.
“Rio Grande Wetbacks: Mexican Migrant Workers”
https://books.google.com/books?id=OpdEAAAAYAAJ
Carrol Norquest - 1972
“What Price Wetbacks?”
https://books.google.com/books?id=z_FkAAAAMAAJ
1953
“Neighbors—Mexico and the United States: wetbacks and oil”
https://books.google.com/books?id=VDh2AAAAMAAJ
Robert Jones Shafer, ‎Donald J. Mabry - 1981
“Wetbacks”
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=147937668X
Mark Crane - 2012
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“The US-Mexico Border in American Cold War Film: Romance, ...”
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1137535636
Stephanie Fuller - 2015 - ‎Preview - ‎More editions
Gladwin Hill, “Wetback Ousting by Airlift Revived: Action by Congress
Remedies Shortage of Funds,†New York Times, June 13, 1952, 11;
Hadley, “Critical Analysis of the Wetback Problem,†334; “Wetback Bill Approved: House Judiciary ...”
“The United States, Mexico, and the Wetbacks, 1942-1947”
https://books.google.com/books?id=DJP8HAAACAAJ
“New York Times, August 17, 1953, 11; Anthony Leviero,
“Eisenhower Backs ‘Wetbacks’ Drive: Brownell Presents at Denver His U.S.-State Plan to Halt Illegal Influx of Mexicans”
“Wetback: a novel” - Page 65
https://books.google.com/books?id=lxc3AAAAIAAJ
Claud W. Garner - 1947 - ‎Snippet view
Come out, wetbacks, if you want a job.” The call came
from a man standing in the back of the truck. He repeated
his call first in English and then in Spanish. “Want a job?
You wetbacks want a good job?” Chepe hesitated”
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION EVEN CALLED` EM WETBACKS!
ABA Journal - Mar 1972 - Page 254
https://books.google.com/books?id=AlMUqcsJfysC
Vol. 58 - ‎Magazine - ‎Full view
“But in practice this does not always help the wetback”