Controversial message on the back of Las Cruces business

A message painted on the back of a business in Las Cruces is raising some eyebrows.

The message reads, “End Operation Wetback II Now!”

ABC-7 learned about this story after seeing a Facebook post from a woman who wanted to learn more about it.

In the post, the woman said the message was offensive and she also called it disgusting.

But as ABC-7 learned, there is more to the message than meets the eye.

The term “wetback” is derogatory and refers to a Mexican immigrant who crosses into the U.S. by swimming across the Rio Grande.

“Operation Wetback” is a reference to a controversial immigration law enforcement initiative that happened back in the 1950’s.

The operation, that was carried out by the U.S. and Mexican governments, resulted in a mass deportation of Mexican workers who were in the U.S. illegally.

Some of the workers were deported to places in Mexico they were unfamiliar with.

On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump praised the policy although he didn’t refer to it by name.

History does look back on the name of the operation as being racist.

The message in Las Cruces is painted on the back wall of a flower shop in north Las Cruces.

ABC-7 spoke with the owner of the flower shop, Mike Mirelez, who says the message is merely his opinion about the current treatment of immigrants under the Trump administration.

Mirelez doesn’t agree with how immigrants are currently being treated and he believes history is repeating itself which is why the message reads “Operation Wetback II.”

Mirelez says he just wants people to be informed and that the message is not meant to be offensive.

“Just an awareness, a waking up if you will,” Mirelez said.

Mirelez even takes the time to explain the message to anyone who asks

“I’ll stop doing whatever I’m doing and I’ll take the time to discuss it with them openly,” Mirelez said. “I have nothing to feel bad about or regret. It’s just an awakening. Trying to get people to wake up to the facts of life.”