Through the duration of the program, at least 2.5 million braceros came to the U.S. That translates into about 4.5 million different bracero contracts.

When braceros were hired, they agreed to have 10 percent of their wages deducted per paycheck. These funds were supposed to serve as savings accounts and thus as an incentive to return to Mexico.

The U.S. government was in charge of withdrawing the funds, then transferring the money to the Mexican government. Mexican officials were then supposed to distribute those withheld wages upon a bracero's return. But the idea did not work as well in practice as in theory. Thousands of braceros who remain alive are still waiting for the money.

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox began distributing 38,000 pesos per man, about $3,500, during his administration. But current President Felipe Calderon has made the claims process difficult, said Rosa Martha Zarate, coordinator for the Binational Organizations of Former Braceros in Los Angeles.

According to Zarate, Mexico had planned to distribute about 700 million pesos as “social help” for more than 172,000 braceros or their beneficiaries. In June, though, the government said it would only distribute 4,000 pesos annually until the 38,000-peso ceiling was reached.

Unhappy with how Calderon's government is handling the distribution of funds, Zarate said bracero organizations across the U.S. picketed Mexican consulates on Tuesday.

“We are going to go to the consulates to denounce Calderon's government because he is the one signing these new laws,” Zarate said.