Thread: Gullible mayor swallows Mexican propaganda, lies

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/in ... xml&coll=6

Mayor Hughes gains insights into immigration issue
Friday, August 11, 2006
By Susan Gordanier

The Argus

This was not a vacation.

On July 31, Mayor Tom Hughes flew to Mexico City to attend the Journey of Information conference sponsored by the Institute for Mexicans Living Abroad, a branch of the Mexican foreign ministry.

He returned Aug. 3 with insights into the immigration debate from the viewpoint of the Mexican government and his peers who govern in U.S. border states.

Hughes was one of 37 U.S. public officials attending, each recommended by their local Mexican consulate. They included state and county representatives, mayors, council members and government advisors, selected either because of their Mexican ancestry or because they represent jurisdictions, like Hillsboro, with significant populations of Mexican nationals.

In an interview Tuesday, Hughes said, contrary to common belief, immigration has not been a problem in Texan border communities. "The Mexican population in the Southwest is older than the United States. They have reached accommodation with populations on the other side of the border. This brings a more pragmatic view of immigration and avoids demagoguery.

"There is a great deal of concern within the Anglo population of Hillsboro due to the growth of the Latino population here," Hughes said, but he pointed to the real economics of that growth - the 63,000 workers in Oregon's nursery stock industry, all taxpayers with full-time jobs. "These are not day jobs," he said, "but (day workers) are easy to pick on; they're vulnerable."

Critics of immigration policy note about $20 billion flows to Mexico yearly as workers send money home. Hughes says the Mexican government, however, focuses on the portion of its citizens' earnings that remains in the U.S. A worker typically saves at most 10 percent after expenses, and funds sent to Mexico are these workers' surplus. This means 90 percent of their money remains here, feeding local economies.

"The Mexican government argues impacts are more to its economy than to the U.S.," Hughes said.

One message from the conference was Mexico hopes to boost its own economy so it can "recapture" these workers and put their earnings to use in its own communities. At the conference Hughes learned of Mexican government programs designed to help this process:

Through consulates, Mexican nationals can invest money in a home-purchase program, in effect "front-loading" a mortgage, or invest in Mexican stocks. "State clubs" allow investment in village infrastructure.

Hughes cites one program of the Mexican government with local benefits, the Matricula Consular ID card. The secure cards carry the bearer's home address in Mexico and can help Hillsboro police contact relatives of Mexicans living here.

Ultimately immigration is a national issue, Hughes said. "We cooperate with the INS whenever asked, but we deliver services to members of our community. We're not going to check first whether they're legal or illegal.

"Our question is, rather, who can we partner with to provide services, and one of the best resources is the consulate in Portland."

Ultimately immigration is a national issue, Hughes said. "We cooperate with the INS whenever asked, but we deliver services to members of our community. We're not going to check first whether they're legal or illegal.

Remember in November!

see what happens when you go to Mexico and drink the water.......
look what comes out..........

The Mexican population in the Southwest is older than the United States.

He sounds like a reconquista convert to me.

In an interview Tuesday, Hughes said, contrary to common belief, immigration has not been a problem in Texan border communities. "The Mexican population in the Southwest is older than the United States. They have reached accommodation with populations on the other side of the border. This brings a more pragmatic view of immigration and avoids demagoguery.

Hmmm, who made this man the God of Texas border communities? He should only speak for his own community, not those outside his township. From everything I've heard, his views do not coincide with those of community leaders in other border towns.

If he really wanted to obtain enlightenment he should have applied for a job without an FM-3 visa. Assuming he got out without being turned in and arrested he should apply for an FM-3 work visa. After he got the FM-3 he should have applied for a jobon a front counter. Even if yo are a legal immigrant to Mexico you can not take a front counter job.

Originally Posted by MW

In an interview Tuesday, Hughes said, contrary to common belief, immigration has not been a problem in Texan border communities. "The Mexican population in the Southwest is older than the United States. They have reached accommodation with populations on the other side of the border. This brings a more pragmatic view of immigration and avoids demagoguery.

Hmmm, who made this man the God of Texas border communities? He should only speak for his own community, not those outside his township. From everything I've heard, his views do not coincide with those of community leaders in other border towns.

If that is true, then why are all the towns people where my husband is putting up the fence, honking and giving them thumbs up?