Thread: AmCham to support migration reform

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/miami/16679.html

AmCham to support migration reform
BY NATALIA GÓMEZ QUINTERO
El Universal
Domingo 22 de enero de 2006
Miami Herald, página 1

The American Chamber Mexico plans to come out this week in support of a U.S. temporary work visa program sponsored by U.S. senators John McCain and Edward Kennedy.
The Mexican government has an unexpected ally in its efforts to reach a migration accord with the United States.

The American Chamber Mexico (AmCham) and its counterparts across the hemisphere will come out in support of a proposal drafted by U.S. senators John McCain and Edward Kennedy this week, according to AmCham head Larry Rubin. If approved, the bill would create a temporary visa program for workers from abroad and allow undocumented migrants already in the United States to stay if they paid back taxes, learned English and fulfilled other requirements.

The American Chamber is an independent organization that fosters business ties between Mexico and the United States. Its member companies represent 85 percent of the foreign investment in Mexico.

In an interview with EL UNIVERSAL, Rubin said the annual meeting of the 23 American business chambers in Latin America will be held in Miami this week.

He said migration reform would benefit both businesses and Latin American workers. He added the American chamber´s collective clout has helped push legislation in the past.

"This forum helped achieve the approval of the Central American free trade agreement less than a year ago, thanks to the Amcham presidents," Rubin said.

He added that AmCham Mexico is against a recent measure approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and awaiting debate in the Senate that would beef up border security, build more border walls and make being an undocumented migrant a felony.

AmCham Mexico joins a number of prominent U.S. groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and two major unions, that have come out against the enforcement-only migration proposal in recent weeks. Conservative U.S. lawmakers have said, however, they will only negotiate on a temporary worker program when border security has been improved.

"The wall is not a solution because (migrants) will find ways to get around it," Rubin said, adding that there are millions of positions in the United States with no workers to fill them.

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