Thread: Mexican officials distance selves from U.S. protests

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/3816683.html

April 25, 2006, 12:14AM
Mexican officials distance selves from U.S. protests
Fox has praised recent marches for immigration reform, but stops short of meddling


By DUDLEY ALTHAUS
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

MEXICO CITY - Wary of being seen as meddling in internal U.S. affairs, Mexican officials met Monday with about three dozen Latino leaders from across the United States to stress that President Vicente Fox's government is keeping its distance from protests in favor of illegal immigrants.

In more than four hours of meetings, senior Mexican foreign ministry officials quizzed members of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad, a Mexican agency created by Fox in 2002, about plans for the day of protests next Monday and subsequent actions in the coming months.

"They want it known that the Mexican government doesn't have a position for or against, that it hasn't given any instructions to the members of the institute," said Luis de La Garza of Dallas, an institute counselor and member of the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, who attended the meeting.

In response to U.S. congressional moves to clamp down on illegal immigration, huge protests calling for legalization of the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants erupted across the United States in the past month.

Fox himself praised the recent marches and has reiterated calls for a comprehensive immigration deal that would include a large guest worker program.

But other Mexican officials worry that the protests might prove counterproductive — especially with U.S. lawmakers — if seen as being promoted from Mexico City, said analyst Rafael Fernandez de Castro, who closely follows U.S.-Mexico relations.

While not actively supporting the protesters, neither do Mexican officials want to be seen as condemning them. A public defense of its citizens abroad is a cornerstone of any Mexican government.

"The government is in a difficult situation," Fernandez said.

But the amount of influence the Mexican government can wield one way or the other is itself debatable.

Little trust in officials
"Nobody in the community trusts them anyway," Maria Jimenez, a longtime immigrant rights advocate in Houston, said of Mexican officials. "Mexican immigrants would be very wary of anything officials said."

Latino and immigrant groups have been struggling for weeks to decide how to respond to the call for a nationwide "boycott" next Monday — May 1, or May Day. Some organizers have called for Latino businesses to close that day, for workers to stay off the job and for people to refrain from buying anything.

Proving economic power
The purpose, organizers have said, is to show the economic power of the immigrant community. But other Latino leaders have argued for a less strident approach. And some fear people who stay home from work may lose their jobs or income from their businesses.

"It's going to be counter-productive," said Felix Rodriguez, of the Houston Chapter of the Coalition of Mexicans Abroad, a nationwide U.S. organization. "We think we need another kind of answer."

After clashes over strategy in recent weeks, a consensus is growing among Latino activists that everyone can fashion their own kind of protests for next week, said Primitivo Rodriguez, an adviser the Mexican government on the immigrant vote.

dqalthaus@yahoo.com

In won't even cause a burp in the economy IMHO!