Why Millions Risk Lives to Enter the U.S.

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=6515

by Randy Shaw‚ Jan. 22‚ 2009

Immigration policy remains a hot button issue in the United States. Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel has described comprehensive immigration legislation as the “third rail” of American politics, and CNN provides Lou Dobbs with a daily forum for bashing undocumented immigrants. While opponents of creating a path to legalization for such immigrants recognize that they leave Mexico due to a lack of opportunity, they avoid the underlying causes of this migration. Fortunately, David Bacon’s Illegal People provides the often ignored background. Bacon convincingly demonstrates that United States trade and economic policies have forced Mexicans to leave their country by eliminating viable economic options at home. This virtually forced migration has dramatically increased illegal immigration from Mexico into the United States, yet many of the corporate interests promoting globalization and free trade back politicians who then blame undocumented immigrants for America’s economic problems. Bacon’s clear, succinct, and highly readable book explains how globalization creates migration and criminalizes immigrants, pulling back the curtain to reveal facts that the Lou Dobbs’ of the world would prefer be kept out of the debate.



Few journalists are more deeply steeped in the lives of undocumented immigrants than the Bay Area’s own David Bacon. A former boycott organizer for the United Farmworkers of America, Bacon has produced landmark photo essays and a number of books on the plight of Mexican immigrants in the United States.

Bacon’s new book, Illegal People, explains how U.S. trade and economic policy caused the massive influx of Mexicans into the United States. For example, after NAFTA ended Mexican government corn subsidies, and allow the massive importation of cheaper U.S. corn, Mexican corn farmers could not earn enough to survive. Bacon details the plight of Oaxacan corn farmers, showing how they had little choice but to migrate to the United States, regardless of the great personal risks. Once here, they are demonized as “illegal,” often cheated out of wages and benefits, and potentially, as in recent years, subjected to ICE raids where they are often treated as terrorists.

Bacon reminds us of the incredible physical obstacles immigrants face in reaching the United States, and the brutality far too many experience once here. He also highlights the egregious hypocrisy of United States immigration policy: after our policies have forced people off their land, and given them no choice but to migrate, we then prosecute and deport them for violating our immigration laws.

If Bacon’s account were not backed with examples and facts, one could easily think he was writing a fictional horror story. Or an Orwellian, 1984-type tale in which a powerful nation allows major corporations to oppress and criminalize impoverished Mexican immigrants solely for profit.


FULL story at link.

[jwirr]

1. Our economic and trade policies have created havoc all over the

world so it should not come as a surprise that we have done this to our southern neighbors. It is just stupid to make them desperate. Cornered animals fight for their survival and we should not be surprised when people do the same. We need to correct this NOW before oil peak and global warming get any worse because these two crisis will only exacerbate the tension.

[Boojatta]

2. Why does the government of Mexico have authority to negotiate trade deals?

Bacon convincingly demonstrates that United States trade and economic policies have forced Mexicans to leave their country by eliminating viable economic options at home.

For example, after NAFTA ended Mexican government corn subsidies, and allow the massive importation of cheaper U.S. corn, Mexican corn farmers could not earn enough to survive. (Underlining added by Boojatta)

There are refugees in various parts of the world who survive because the United Nations and other relief agencies deliver food and water to refugee camps. Refugees from various conflicts around the world aren't all forced by circumstance to arrive in America.

The US government doesn't have jurisdictional authority over Mexico. NAFTA applies to Mexico because of legislation enacted by the authorities in Mexico. The legislative authorities in Mexico are supposed to represent the people of Mexico. If they are failing to properly represent the people of Mexico, then the people of Mexico can expect a wide variety of significant problems, and NAFTA will be merely the tip of the iceberg.