Mexican president says immigration vote 'a grave error'

[Jim Warren]

But the question remains, after 13 years, for whom do these opportunies of Nafta that he mentions best benefit?

MEXICO CITY — President Felipe Calderon of Mexico today blasted the U.S. Senate's rejection of the immigration bill, calling the senators' action "a grave error" that avoided a "sensible, rational and legal solution."

"It's a mistake," Calderon said. "First, because it's a problem that's not being confronted. And with this evasive action the U.S. Senate is making it worse.
"Secondly, by closing the door on legal immigration, the only thing the Senate does is open the door to illegal immigration."

Calderon is a political and economic conservative. He argues that the opportunities offered by the 13-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement can only be fully realized with a freer flow of labor between the United States, Mexico and Canada.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4929095.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. It's a grave error, because if ten million Mexicans are returned to

Mexico, it will prove to be too much of a challenge in the next Mexican election.

[MUAD_DIB]

3. What does Mexico do to enforce its border?

Does it try to stop the illegals crossing the border?


Any links would help.


Thanks.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. To my knowledge, none.

But you see, the people who are coming here to take jobs as crop pickers are the labor force and if they were back in Mexico, they would support a pro-labor candidate. This is exactly what the conservatives in Mexico don't want. They like it just the way it is, with 90% of the resources owned by less than 10% of the people.

Mexico is more than happy to pass on their excess to America. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if their application for social welfare is an arrow pointing North.

Let's put the real blame where the real blame belongs. On Mexico and its leaders.

[SteelPenguin]

18. It benefits Mexico

Those crop pickers, if they have the excess are sending the money their earn to their families back in Mexico. They are low wage unskilled workers that Mexico doesn't have to worry about being unemployed in their country, and not only that, they're putting money into the Mexican system that otherwise wouldn't be there.

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. That's right.

Sounds like in a compromise both parties have to lose something they want. It just seems like this is win-win for Mexico; but aside for cheap labor for lawn service and nannies, I don't see how this benefits Americans, because, whatever we save in low cost in products, we make up in social services. If Mexico wants to keep this good thing going, maybe they should volunteer to pay for the social services for Mexican immigrants?

[treestar]

8. They don't have to, since hardly anyone tries to immigrate

TO Mexico.

The Mexicans have no duty to enforce our border. No one outside of ourselves does. That's taking American Exceptionalism a bit far.

The rest of the world does not live only to help America.

[Jim Warren]

12. Not at all accurate

There are thousands who attempt to enter Mexico's southern borders and are met with draconian measures. I've been there and can attest it's army, sandbags, and tripod mounted machine guns.

As far as Mexico's nothern border, it's easy for an American tourist to cross......much more difficult for an American to stay.

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. How easy is it for an American to buy land in Mexico and settle down?

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. Mexico only enforces it's southern border. With guns. n/t

[Breeze54]

15. Yes! From the USA to Mexico!

Welcome to your directory of immigrating to Mexico
http://directory.com.mx/immigration/


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13006798/site/newsweek/">How Mexico Treats Immigrants

"... since 1974, sneaking into Mexico has been punishable by up to two years in prison Foot-dragging on amnesty? Fox has spent the past five years urging the United States to upgrade the status of millions of illegals from Mexico. Meanwhile, his own government has given legal status to only 15,000 foreigners without papers."

Some of the worst abuses take place on the coffee plantations of Chiapas state, where some 40,000 Guatemalan field hands endure backbreaking jobs and squalid living conditions to earn roughly $3.50 a day. Some growers even deduct the cost of room and board from that amount. "If you ask them, 'Why are you bringing in Guatemalans to work?' they say, 'You can't depend on Mexicans. They don't work hard; they're irresponsible'," says George Grayson, a political scientist specializing in Mexico at the College of William & Mary. "The truth is, you can pay a pittance. And if they cause the slightest disturbance, you can send them back to Guatemala."

At least a few Mexicans are balking at the hypocrisy. Late last year their National Human Rights Commission issued a report criticizing Mexico's widespread mistreatment of aliens; the report described sub- human facilities where captured illegals are kept until they can be deported. Several international news agencies ran stories on the publication. But most of Mexico's leading papers ignored it.

more....

[KillCapitalism]

2. It's a grave error to him.

That's because he so conveniently uses this country as a dumping ground for the poor, felons, and others he deems as "undesirables."

[madokie]

4. yes its a grave error only to him

[treestar]

9. That totally misrepresents the nature of the migration

This is not Australia, with Mexico being Britain, in the 19th century.

[DBoon]

14. No, immigration allows him to cover up his economic mistakes

As long as Mexico is corrupt and impoverished, Mexicans will try to emmigrate.

You want to stop illegal immigration, you need to fix Mexico.

Fixing Mexico would hurt the ruling elite there - it's easier for them to dump their problem on the US than pursue reforms that would affect their wealth and power

[ChazII]

6. Mr. President

Enforce your northern border as you do your southern border. Better yet, send up troops like you did when the Minute Men first started watching the border.

[msongs]

7. mexico's most valuable export is its people. calderon doesnt want that to change.

mexican immigrants to the US, legal or not, send home billions of dollars and take up no resources in return as they are not in the country. from an economic viewpoint it is win-win for calderon.It is also an indictment of Mexico's various economic and social systems.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[Marrah_G]

10. Screw him

Him and the rest of the assholes in his government can go jump off a cliff. Maybe if he wasn't such a greedy POS we wouldn't need to worry about mass immigration. He needs to worry about governing his own country and not ours. Last time I checked we aren't all racing to cross into his sorry-ass country.

[FreakinDJ]

13. Shit - "He is acting like Bush"

Using his scary words to force the USA

His biggest threat is to allow everyone in his country to sneak over to the USA.

Ooppps - "He already did that"

[Bridget Burke]

17. HIs predecessor, Fox, was also conservative, by Mexican standards.

But he was the first non-PRI president elected since the Revolution. (Well, the first one who got more votes & was allowed to take office.) There was a chance for change.

Fox met with Bush not long after Bush "took office." He wanted to discuss Mexican workers in the US. And he wanted help in improving Mexico's economy--so fewer would need to leave. Bush ignored him.

From the article:
Calderon, however, has placed less emphasis than his predecessor on lobbying for changes in U.S. immigration law, partly, analysts say, out of concern of getting burned. Former President Vicente Fox's relationship with President Bush soured over Mexico's refusal to support the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the failure to work out an immigration agreement with Washington.

"Fortunately, Calderon has been more realistic," said Rafael Fernandez de Castro, a Mexico City-based foreign affairs analyst. "He's put fewer eggs in the immigration reform basket and it's not so costly for him and his diplomacy."

Millions of Mexicans took to the streets because of doubts about Calderon's election. (How many of us were in the streets in 2000 & 2001?) But the US supported him. Now, he will be ignored.

Those wishing for a new revolution in Mexico: Do you know about the one that occurred from 1910 to 1920? Over a million Mexicans died. And another million came North.

[Atman]

20. Who closed the door on LEGAL immigration?

Bullshit, Felipe. Anyway, the door is already wide open to illegal immigrants. Nothing's changed.

.