Southern Disgust
If I were a citizen of the countries that are south of the American boarder I would wonder if my country loved me or not. New demands are being put forth that seem to me like the governments do not want thier citizens any more.
By MARK STEVENSON
Associated Press Writer
MEXICO CITY
Diplomats from Mexico and Central America on Monday demanded guest worker programs and the legalization of undocumented migrants in the United States, while criticizing a U.S. proposal for tougher border enforcement.
Meeting in Mexico's capital, the regional officials pledged to do more to fight migrant trafficking, but indirectly condemned a U.S. bill that would make illegal entry a felony and extend border walls.
"Migrants, regardless of their migratory status, should not be treated like criminals," they said. (WELL THEN THEY SHOULDN'T BREAK THE LAW.)
The countries represented at the meeting _ including Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize and Panama _ created a working group to design a regional policy to avoid migrant abuse and to follow the course of the legislation.
"There has to be an integrated reform that includes a temporary worker program, but also the regularization of those people who are already living in receptor countries," Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez said.
Derbez has called the measure _ which passed the U.S. House of Representatives last month but still must go before the Senate _ "stupid and underhanded," but was somewhat more restrained on Monday, saying "it's not the Mexican government's position to tell the U.S. Senate what to do." ( THEN WHY DO THEY TRY TO DICTATE TO THE UNITED STATES ALL THE TIME ABOUT OUR BOARDER?)
The U.S. proposal has caused widespread resentment in Mexico, where some have accused President Vicente Fox's administration of not being assertive enough in opposing it. Fox has called the bill shameful.
Mexicans working in the United States are a huge source of revenue for Mexico, sending home more than $16 billion in remittances in 2004, Mexico's second largest source of foreign currency after oil exports according to the country's central bank. (AHA! HERE IS WHY THEY DO NOT WANT ANY IMMIGRATION REFORM. TO MUCH MONEY IN PLAY.)
Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar, defended the administration's record on Monday, telling reporters that migration has declined in recent years, though official figures show it remains at historically high levels. (ONLY REASON FIGURES ARE NOT GROWING IS BECAUSE THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT HAS STOPPED IN MANY PLACES COUNTING.)
Aguilar also said migrants "don't emigrate because they lack work, but rather for a series of other reasons, cultural reasons or better living conditions."
( A LACK OF DECENT LIVING CONDITIONS. WHAT THIS IS AMERICAS FAULT? LOOKS TO ME LIKE MAYBE THE GOVERNMENTS SOUTH OF THE BOARDER NEED TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVING AND WORK CONDITIONS THERE INSTEAD OF DEPENDING ON THE USA TO SUPPLY THIS FOR THIER CITIZENS.)
By MARK STEVENSON
Associated Press Writer
MEXICO CITY
Diplomats from Mexico and Central America on Monday demanded guest worker programs and the legalization of undocumented migrants in the United States, while criticizing a U.S. proposal for tougher border enforcement.
Meeting in Mexico's capital, the regional officials pledged to do more to fight migrant trafficking, but indirectly condemned a U.S. bill that would make illegal entry a felony and extend border walls.
"Migrants, regardless of their migratory status, should not be treated like criminals," they said. (WELL THEN THEY SHOULDN'T BREAK THE LAW.)
The countries represented at the meeting _ including Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize and Panama _ created a working group to design a regional policy to avoid migrant abuse and to follow the course of the legislation.
"There has to be an integrated reform that includes a temporary worker program, but also the regularization of those people who are already living in receptor countries," Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez said.
Derbez has called the measure _ which passed the U.S. House of Representatives last month but still must go before the Senate _ "stupid and underhanded," but was somewhat more restrained on Monday, saying "it's not the Mexican government's position to tell the U.S. Senate what to do." ( THEN WHY DO THEY TRY TO DICTATE TO THE UNITED STATES ALL THE TIME ABOUT OUR BOARDER?)
The U.S. proposal has caused widespread resentment in Mexico, where some have accused President Vicente Fox's administration of not being assertive enough in opposing it. Fox has called the bill shameful.
Mexicans working in the United States are a huge source of revenue for Mexico, sending home more than $16 billion in remittances in 2004, Mexico's second largest source of foreign currency after oil exports according to the country's central bank. (AHA! HERE IS WHY THEY DO NOT WANT ANY IMMIGRATION REFORM. TO MUCH MONEY IN PLAY.)
Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar, defended the administration's record on Monday, telling reporters that migration has declined in recent years, though official figures show it remains at historically high levels. (ONLY REASON FIGURES ARE NOT GROWING IS BECAUSE THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT HAS STOPPED IN MANY PLACES COUNTING.)
Aguilar also said migrants "don't emigrate because they lack work, but rather for a series of other reasons, cultural reasons or better living conditions."
( A LACK OF DECENT LIVING CONDITIONS. WHAT THIS IS AMERICAS FAULT? LOOKS TO ME LIKE MAYBE THE GOVERNMENTS SOUTH OF THE BOARDER NEED TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVING AND WORK CONDITIONS THERE INSTEAD OF DEPENDING ON THE USA TO SUPPLY THIS FOR THIER CITIZENS.)
