Everyone is up in arms about the United States and its immigration reform. President Vicente Fox of Mexico has spent 5 years urging Americans to legalize more Mexican immigrants. But what is his policy on immigration into Mexico?
It's actually very strict. (My information comes from a June 5th Newsweek article, "Stepping Over the Line.") Mexicans cheered President Fox on sending soldiers down to their southern border to lessen immigration. Since 1974, a person caught sneaking into Mexico can spend up to 2 years in prison. The Mexican government has only given legal status to 15,000 foreigners without papers in the past 5 years.
Hypocritical? Yes. How can so many Mexicans be trying to get the U.S. to loosen its foreign policy when they're cheering on their own president for cutting down immigration?
Let's say a person from Central America, or even a more southern country is tryong to immigrate to America. They will have to get through Mexico before they can reach America. And that ioften risks their own life. If they get caught by Mexican authorities, they will go to jail, and sometimes the government forgets about them and they end up in jail longer than 2 years. I don't believe this is fair.
Now my own opinion towards the U.S. and immigration is that I support many immigrants. I believe that if they are just trying to better themselves, then why not let them come here? It's difficult, expensive, and very time-consuming to come here via the legal route.
That said, I think Mexico should ease up on its immigration policy. President Fox cannot tell us to grant citizenship to his citizens if he won't grant citizenship to any illegals in his country.
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Are u using expression "We have been sold out". "They (Senate) sold us out". What do u mean by that? Are they traitors? Is this sedition? Carol
Mexico's southern border is almost militarized, it has groups of soliders armed and even APC in some places. Not too mention monitered roads, (part of the reason is because of leftist rebels who have threatned to commit terroism in Mexico) However immigrants from other countries in Mexico have little rights, they cant participate in politcs or be a member of the Clergy. Its funny how our senate seems to think its ok to give them so many more rights then they would give us.
I wonder why the media and elected officials don't talk about the way Mexico treats their illegal immigrants. Vicente Fox gets national coverage from a little speech he may make with a governor. But no counter-points are presented and his hypocrisy goes unchallenged. I wonder what type of laws Mexico has for preventing illegal immigrants from voting in Mexican elections? It seems Fox wants Mexicans to vote in American elections, but only Mexicans can vote in Mexican elections.
I've read and listened to many comments about the immigration laws in Mexico and the United States. However, no one has mentioned the reasons why those laws exist in both countries. Those reasons are fundamentally different.
In Mexico immigration laws were created because people from all over the world have tried, and sometimes succeeded, to go to Mexico and take advantage of the people living there, and deplete the country of its natural resources just to make themselves immensely rich disregarding the state of the people there. Do you remember the Mexican-American war; the French trying to invade Mexico (5 de Mayo); the American corporations stealing gold, oil, etc? I could go on and on.
In the U.S. immigration laws have a different origin. People want to come here to work and have a descent living standard. If any of you has the chance to read the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, do so. By doing that you will realize what has been the foundation of this country:
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
People who come here come here looking for a different life and willing to work hard to get it.
As for all the arguments heavily publicized about immigration. They have nothing new. They are the same arguments people used against Blacks, Irish, Polish, Chinese, and now Hispanic new comers.
So lets get informed and think a little bit more critically. Why is there so much disdain for other people that look different, sound different.
Immigration will occur. Human history has been that of immigration. There are plenty of resources in the world for every one to have a descent living standard. Now what will we do about it. Will we let people oppress those who are vulnerable or will we honor the foundations that made America great?
I do support immigration...even illegal immigration because I realize that people are trying to better themselves and the futures of them and their families. I just think that Fox is being hypocritical. I think he should ease up on his immigration laws.
Emma Lazarus' poem is not among this country's founding documents. Take a look at the Constitution.
I find the argument that Mexico has extremely restrictive immigration laws to prevent exploitation highly unpersuasive. Especially since the Mexican oligarchy are doing a darn fine job of exploiting Mexico, and especially since allowing Mexico to send us millions of their citizens assists that oligarchy: those Mexican citizens send money home, and they also help Mexico avoid reforms.
As for the previous arguments, look up the logical fallacy of 'appeal to tradition'.
The problem with the Mexican government is corruption. If the laws that exist in Mexico were enforced, they could have a standard of living similar or better to what we have.
I was unaware that the words of a poet, regardless of where they are inscribed, places any sort of geas or responsibility on America's citizens. Laws, not poems are the foundation of our society. Indeed, would the poet's sentiment have been the same had our culture foundered from an invasion of multiple cultures unwilling to assimilate? One need look no further than the recent problems France (from whence came the noted statue of Liberty) has experienced with immigration to realize that, far from being racist or nativist, America must stem the flow if we are to survive as a society and culture.
First I am a computer scientist. I understand logic in a way that very few people can. As far apealing to tradition, I am not saying that just because this country was founded we should welcome people. Rather what I am saying is that the hard work, sweat, and tears of those immigrants have made America a great nation. Can you follow that logic? Or should I break it down for you a bit more?
I am not saying that just because this country was <b>founded by immigrants </b>we should welcome people.
“…take advantage of the people living there ” The Mexican government is still killing the indians native to the southern region. Mexicans are a genetic mix of mostly Spanish and native indians. Many only claim their “Spanish Heritage”.
Mexico declared war on the U.S., lost and signed a treaty.
“Give me your….” Doesn’t mean diseased, criminal perverts wanting to live off the government. Not all aliens fit that category but many do. Like the prisoners and the asylums that Catsro emptied and sent from Cuba. We don’t know how many there are but we should.
The U.S. has the most liberal immigration in the world and accepts more LEGAL immigrants than any other country. By the way, the statue is from France and the wording was inspired by Emma Lazarus’ horror at the anti-Semitic riots in Russia and the sight of refugees who fled them. She was actually speaking about legal immigration. They fled due to genocide and civil and religious persecution, not economics.
“As for all the arguments heavily publicized about immigration.” You’re missing the point. Most of the articles aren’t complaining about immigration. I welcome all of our southern neighbors as LEGAL immigrants. Join us. Teach me Mexican & I’ll tell you any Gaelic I know. Cook me a taco, I’ll pour a Harp for you. I believe in family re-unification. You are ILLEGAL and want to be with your family? Go back. Go back and all of you, get in line.
I love Mexico and Mexicans; the food, the women, the music, the lifestyle, the booze and the environment. I guess I’m just one of those corrupt gringos taking advantage of Mexico. I was there last year and I’ll be going back this year, but only as a tourist. It is almost impossible to immigrate there. You should read their constitution on limits imposed on their “naturalized citizens”.
“Immigration will occur.” So will death, taxes, cancer and AIDS. But they all can be controlled with a little effort.
“The foundations that made America great” can be found in following the LAW.
Churchhill: “If you’re not a liberal while in your 20’s, you have no heart. If you’re not a conservative in your 40’s, you have no brain.”
"Mexico declared war on the U.S., lost and signed a treaty."
Not true. The US, by any standard, provoked the war on a weakened, beleaguered nation with the purpose of grabbing 1/3 of its territory.
Mexico had an incredibly permissive immigration policy towards the US, and that good will cost them dearly.
So you say Mexico's natural resources can be depleted by allowing immigrants in. Apparently you think the US has an unending supply of natural resources that cannot be depleted by having not hundreds, not thousands but millions invade us every year? How long before our resources are depleted? And who will bail us out once they are depleted? Mexico? NOT! They're to selfish and racist to help anyone. I doubt if they'd allow their own people back in.
The only reason they hover over their people here in the US is because they want that almighty dollar! They demand we treat their people better than Mexico ever has or ever will. If they had shown that kind of care when their people were in Mexico, those people would never have left. A country of "do as I say, not as I do".
Mexico has plenty of natural resources that they have selfishly guarded from their own people, forcing them to go without. After hundreds of years they couldn't get their act together to care for their own people. Now they see the US as a pot of gold & want to take it over. And do what with it? The same as the Mexican government did with Mexico? Line their pockets and keep the working class in poverty?
They're jealous of our wealth, yet they're one of the richest countries around but do NOT use that wealth to help their people. Helping a needy country is one thing, helping a wealthy country is another.
America isn't prepared for the onslaught, it's like building a massive housing community without having hospitals, police, schools, stores, gas stations or mail carriers. That's where we're at now, they sneak in uninvited now we have to provide them with life sustaining support out of our pockets, not Mexico's. While they demand we GIVE to them, they call us names, such as racist, bigot, selfish, wave their flags in our face and tell us to leave our own country so they can have it.
Mexico's President Fox has complained on many occasions that the US doesn't respect Mexico. Huhhh? What's there to respect? What has Mexico done for the American worker, except drain him dry, lowering his standard of living? That's the same thing they did to their own people, that's why some of those people came here. I have no respect at all for Mexico. I can't think of one reason Mexico deserves our respect. Mexico OWES the US respect, not the other way around.
There's nothing wrong with LEGAL immigrants showing appreciation, coming into this country, but everything is wrong with ungrateful, demanding ILLEGAL aliens coming here sucking taxpayers dry by giving them FREE benefits and sending their earnings of about 50 billion tax free dollars a year to their beloved Mexico. Mexico should be sending the US money not the other way around. Mexico is a racist, selfish, corrupt ungrateful country and so is most it's people. That's my 2 cents.
They pay taxes too just like you and I. The difference is that they don't have the opportunities the rest of the population has.
Today is July fourth, America's Independence Day and the first for my boyfriend. He is an illegal Mexican immigrant. He has been here 6 years. Excluding his parents and 2 brothers, his entire family lives here. They all pay and file taxes. None of them get a tax return. I am very torn on immigration. However, before I took any stance on how I felt about immigration I immersed myself in the aspects of American life to an immigrant. Not all illegals live off our welfare or heathcare systems. Many of them learn about our history, traditions, they even learn our language. They have illegal children who go to school in public American schools. They have American friends, shop at American stores, eat American food and have American dreams. They talk like you and I but are bilingual. I have a great deal of respect for immigrants and their families. You cannot judge a people based on their government. Nor can you base your opinion of people based on what you see or read in the media. That's not to say by any means I don't find myself questioning the integrity of Mexico's government. Yes, they have tight immigration laws but it is true if you have done any research you will probably understand why. At night I watch the Mexican news on DishLatino and all I can do is shake my head. I think for most people and the 12 million illegals who live here, Mexico can be a nightmare economically. Let's compare an American housepainter to a Mexican housepainter. In Mexico a housepainter will usually make about 50 dollars a week, where as an American housepainter paid on piecework may make as much as 1,500 a week during peak season. Would you immigrate? There are 11 different categories that may qualify someone for a green card in the U.S. Mexicans usually don't fit any of them. The green card lottery? Forget it. It excludes Mexico. They are desperate. Our military reserves are low and they want to send them to the Mexico border. Personally, I think the American goverment is also corrupt. Maybe to a lesser degree. But we are far from perfect. I support American immigration reform reguardless of what Mexico does. I support the guest worker. As much as people like to say the Mexicans steal our jobs, they do not. They help support our economy. Would you like to work 16 hour days with no breaks? Would you like to be a sewer cleaner, an apple picker, a garment worker? I doubt it. But these jobs are necessary. For Americans moving to Mexico it is quite accessible. Over 600,000 American retirees live in Mexico. Again corrupt and looking for money, but still allowing us to live there.
i had no idea that Mexico had such tight restrictions on immigrants coming from other countries. But on the other hand, Mexico isn't the country that calls itself the land of opportunity, the U.S. is. People won't stop trying to loosen the restrictions of immigration here because immigration is expected in the U.S. and not really in Mexico.