The stories about deaf Mexicans laving away in US sweatshops made a lot of people angry. The fury was mostly aimed at the exploiters this time, but it's not always that way. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, the long and troubled history of Mexican-American immigration. Also, news from our Southern neighbor and a love story steeped in Mexican history.

SEGMENT 1

Miami Herald reporter Andres Oppenheimer talks with Jim Fleming about the recent Mexican elections; the lack of interest in the William Weld Ambassadorial nomination; and the problem of corruption with military and law enforcement forces on both sides of the border in the war on drugs. Oppenheimer is the author of "Border on Chaos: Guerillas, Stockbrokers, Politicians and Mexico's Violent Struggle for Prosperity."

SEGMENT 2:

University of Michigan historian George Sanchez tells Steve Paulson that Americans have always had ambivalent feelings about Mexican immigrants, and that as long as Americans keep hiring them, Mexicans will come. Sanchez is the author of "Becoming Mexican-American." Also, writer and journalist Francisco Goldman tells Steve Paulson about his novel "The Ordinary Seaman" which is based on a real incident: a crew made up of Central American immigrants was abandoned aboard a derelict ship on the Brooklyn waterfront.

SEGMENT 3:

Novelist Angeles Mastretta is a literary superstar in her native Mexico. She talks with Judith Strasser about her book "Lovesick," which is the story of an enduring love affair, and by the way - the history of Mexico in the twentieth century.

Distribution dates:

• week of 08/17/97 - hour 1