Thread: “Don’t Fence Me Out!� Say Mexicans

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Monday, January 23, 2006

“Don’t Fence Me Out!� Say Mexicans

By Kenneth Emmond


If all the Mexican and American errors with respect to illegal immigration were laid end to end, they would extend from the Gulf of Mexico all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

One of the most preposterous proposals would have the Americans build, or rather extend, a wall along the border as the supreme deterrent to would-be trespassers. Enabling legislation was recently passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is now before the Senate.

Shots are fired all along the border. Within the last two weeks two of these shootings have fatally wounded Mexicans. Others shots have been directed at U.S. Border Patrol agents.

There’s plenty of political hay to be made in both countries from hysteria over the long-simmering quarrel. That’s partly because immigration is not a stand-alone issue. It’s mingled with worries about the cross-border drug trade and the terrorist fears that grip sizable sectors of the American public.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has apparently forgotten that he too is an immigrant, is cashing in on fears that terrorists might join Mexicans seeking work. He calls the California-Mexico frontier a “high-risk zone.�

Mexican President Vicente Fox has forgotten about the rule of law and describes illegal emigrants as “heroes.�

One U.S. Congressman – obviously not the brightest light in the chandelier – even suggested that while they are at it, the Americans might as well build another wall along the “undefended border� between Canada and the U.S. (Don’t forget the Alaska-Yukon frontier: those crafty Canadians might sneak across in snowmobiles and dogsleds!)

The popular but unproductive anti-American card is sure to be played by candidates in Mexico’s presidential election campaign.

There are plenty of errors, emotion, and plain silliness to go around. Both nations must share the blame for this disgraceful state of affairs.

Mexicans rightly criticize Americans for hyperbole about border security and complaints about illegal immigrants draining the social welfare system, even as they continue to hire and underpay those who get through.

But the Americans are right as well when they point out that illegal immigrants are, well, illegal.

They’re also correct to observe that the problem would never have arisen if Mexico’s governments (federal, state, and municipal) had, for generations, devoted more resources to nation-building and development and less to supporting, legally or otherwise, members of the political class and their families and friends.

If they had, there would be more decent-paying jobs at home and fewer unemployed and underemployed Mexicans desperate for a better life.

Whether the severely flawed U.S. proposal for a guest worker program is politically feasible is uncertain. How much political capital is President George W. Bush prepared to spend to get it passed? How much would he need?

So far no one on the Mexican side has dared to propose measures that would actually discourage illegal migrants from crossing the border. On the contrary, the government has published not one but two brochures providing advice to those who intend to do so.

It’s not as if the two nations are enemies. They are important trading partners with huge two-way investment flows, so there’s a powerful incentive to sort things out.

Andres Rozental, head of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations, says day-to-day cooperation between Mexico and the United States on non-immigration issues – public health, trade, and law enforcement, for example – has never been greater.

America needs a sensible framework to deal with the reality of the millions of Mexicans working illegally in their country. Whether they do more harm than good is academic: they are there.

To keep its people at home, Mexico must develop policies that create more jobs with decent wages and a modicum of security. Its perpetual stability-at-any-cost economic policy is like constructing a building without ever finishing the stage of ensuring a sound foundation.

Business has a role. Many employees in enterprises large and small work under conditions of low pay and unjust labor practices of varying degrees of legality that Dickens would recognize. With few jobs available elsewhere, quitting is simply not an option for most of these workers.

In a perfect world, the partners of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) could convert their accord into a customs union, allowing a free flow of labor.

That will not happen soon, but it’s past time to turn down the rhetoric. Cool-headed negotiations between two friendly countries should yield a solution that satisfies both sides.

Whatever that solution may be, building a wall isn’t it.

â€â€

Originally Posted by The Esteemed Economist Kenneth Emmond

In a perfect world, the partners of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) could convert their accord into a customs union, allowing a free flow of labor.

Ahem, cough, choke, cough. In a perfect world, Mr. Emmond, US corporations and other business would obey the law and remove the basis for inviting illegals across the border in the first damn place!

And I'm not an economist! I'm just another lousy voter!

Yeah,

In a perfect world, leaders of ALL countries would provide opportunities for their constituents to prosper economically.


If the US and Mexico were the same economically and politically, then the US wouldn't have such a terrible immigration problem would it?

This guy is a paid hack of the Mexican government, what do you expect him to say?

Earth to Mexican lawbreakers. You are not welcomed or wanted in this country. Hence the need for a fence, it keeps parasites like yourselves out and in Mexico where you belong. So get out and stay out.

allowing a free flow of labor.


Excuse Me? Is this what Bush is after? Do all the leaders think that people who are not millionaire want to move around the world looking for a job?

The people should stay where they are and the jobs should come to them NOT the other way around.

We have some might crazy people in power.