More Bleeding Heart drivel:

County commissioner sees both sides of immigrant issue


Anthony Nunez

By MARGIE WOOD
http://www.chieftain.com/print.php?arti ... 87161815/2
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Mexican immigrants are a concern on both sides of the border, Pueblo County Commissioner Anthony Nunez said following a recent trip to Mexico City.

Nunez was invited to a conference hosted by the Mexican secretary of relationships abroad, the equivalent of the U.S. secretary of state. The Mexican government paid the expenses of 50 Americans who were invited to represent each state.

"Our neighbors to the south are very concerned about immigration issues," Nunez said. "We export more products to them than any other country, and they contribute $23 billion to our economy."

Mexican officials expressed concern that some of their best workers are emigrating to the U.S.

"They would like to see a guest-worker program, and they feel that immigrants are being exploited in this country," he said.

"At the same time, this is a wake-up call for Mexico as well. They realize their need to educate their people that they must go through the legal process." Nunez also detected some resentment of the more stringent immigration controls the U.S. has imposed since 2001.

"They really feel that terrorists are not coming into the U.S. from Mexico. Mexicans are coming here to work for a better life," he said.

"They also expressed their displeasure to me about Colorado's immigration laws. From what I hear, immigrants aren't coming here, but going to other states where they don't have similar laws. I told them we understand, but it's really a federal issue and until the federal government decides what to do, we have to accept what the law is."

One idea that was discussed was dual citizenship, to allow immigrants to pay taxes in both countries.

Nunez said it was quite an experience to visit Mexico City, with 23 million people in the metropolitan area.

The Mexican government has been conducting similar conferences with American delegates for seven years, "so that shows their concern for the problems immigration has created for both countries," he said.