Wetback (slur)

Wetback is a derogatory term for a Mexican or Central American who is in the United States illegally. The term is based on the presumption that the person in question swam or waded across the Rio Grande to get into the United States, getting his or her back wet in the process. "Wetback" may also be used as a blanket term to describe anyone of the Mestizo ethnic group, although this is less common. The English term was first used in 1920s and saw official use by the U.S. Government in 1954 with Operation Wetback.

The term wetback although commonly used today as a derogatory word to describe a Mexican immigrant was actually coined in the late 1800's in Seattle Washington.citation needed] Chinese immigrants came to the US via the shortest route to work the railroads and mining camps of the western US and pacific NW. Ships landed in Elliot bay not far from the current pike place market. One of the first things people wanted when they got off the boat was to find an outhouse which in this case was located at the western end of the piers, consisted of a small shack with a seat and pipe dropping down close to the water. All the locals knew that because of the construction of the out house, that using it during foul weather when the waves where whipping up, or at high tide was not a good idea. For it was not uncommon for a high reaching wave to hit the bottom of the pipe and shooting up into the unsuspecting newcomers backside. Later it became a common derogatory word for immigrant then later associated with more recent immigrants like the Mexicans.