Thread: Mexican president decries 'growing harassment' of migrants i

"I am especially worried about the growing harassment and frank persecution of Mexicans in the United States in recent days," Calderon said at a meeting of the Mexican government's migrant assistance agency.

Don't worry President Calderon, we have a Mexican migrant assistance agency too--it's called ICE.

Also Wednesday, Mexico City officials announced a program to offer city residents living in the United States low fees for sending money home.

This statement is confusing.......How can they be Mexico City residents and living in the U.S. at the same time??

ahhhhhh........low fees for sending money home--Mexician government must get a chunk of money each time an illegal sends money to the home-folks.

The U.S. should wire tap money transfers to Mexico right into the U.S. Treasury.

"Good fences make good neighbors."

USA SHOULD TRACK ALL MONEY BEING SENT OUT OF THE COUNTRY....LEST IT FALL INTO THE HANDS OF TERRORISTS. EVERYONE SENDING MONEY OUT OF THE USA SHOULD HAVE TO SHOE A VALID ID AND A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD.

have put immigrant activists in a grim mood.

Ahhh...seems we have accomplished much on our end!! This statement makes me oh so happy to hear.

Did you all hear that? No? It is the worlds smallest violin playing "I'll cry a river of tears for you!", for the "immigrant" activists!!!!!

Originally Posted by Skippy

Mexican president decries 'growing harassment' of migrants in U.S.
By Mark Stevenson | Associated Press
4:05 PM CST, November 14, 2007

MEXICO CITY - President Felipe Calderon decried Wednesday what he called "the growing harassment" of Mexicans in the United States and said his government will work to counter it by funding a media campaign to show migrant success stories.

Mexican officials have expressed concern over a recent wave of immigration raids and a U.S. political climate perceived as anti-migrant. Calderon said U.S. presidential candidates were using migrants as "symbolic hostages" on the immigration issue.

"I am especially worried about the growing harassment and frank persecution of Mexicans in the United States in recent days," Calderon said at a meeting of the Mexican government's migrant assistance agency.

He called on leading U.S. presidential candidates to "stop holding Mexicans in their country as symbolic hostages in their speeches and (campaign) strategies." He was apparently referring to the hard line some candidates have taken on the immigration issue, and other candidates' unwillingness to take a clear stance in the debate.

To bolster the image of migrants in the U.S., the Mexican government will launch "direct media campaigns aimed at showing migrant success stories and raise awareness of the many contributions" migrants make to U.S. society, he said.

Calderon noted 6 million of the 11 million Mexican migrants in the United States are undocumented, and endorsed the creation of what he called the League Against Discrimination Against Mexicans in the United States.

Pablo Alonso Flores, a member of advisory council of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad, described the new anti-discrimination league as a group "run by Mexican-Americans, aimed mainly at defending our rights peacefully and respectfully, while not allowing media attacks on the integrity, roots and customs of Mexicans."

Calderon also endorsed a project to expand shelters for deported migrants in Mexican border cities.

Several recent high-profile immigration enforcement raids, and political setbacks like Wednesday's decision by New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer to abandon a plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, have put immigrant activists in a grim mood.

Also Wednesday, Mexico City officials announced a program to offer city residents living in the United States low fees for sending money home.

As part of the program, the estimated 600,000 Mexico City migrants will also receive free life insurance policies. If they die, the policy will enable their relatives in Mexico to repatriate their remains free of charge.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nati ... &cset=true

This coming from the leader of one of the most corrupt, crime infested governments on earth where drug lords are in control of their borders as well as government policies

Also Wednesday, Mexico City officials announced a program to offer city residents living in the United States low fees for sending money home.

They should have printed only the line above, thats what I got out of the whole article. The Mexican Prez doesn't care about its people in the U.S., it just wants to guarantee they can continue to send money home to Mexico.

It shows how much of a boost to the country remittances are if they are willing to do expensive advertising campaigns to keep the cash flowing in.

It always comes down to greed and money

Just more evidence that we are being subjected to a foreign invasion. When will we have some politicians who will say so and perform their Constitutionally sworn duty to repell it? I know commentator Pat Buchanon called it a foreign invasion, but has anyone else?

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hea ... 02776.html



Mexico's leader asks favor of U.S. candidates
He urges that migrants not be 'hostages' in race

By MANUEL ROIG-FRANZIA
Washington Post

MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Felipe Calderon took the unusual step Wednesday of injecting himself into U.S. presidential politics, calling Mexican migrants "thematic hostages" of the race and urging candidates not to use them as a talking point.

Speaking at a conference here, Calderon criticized what he called "the growing harassment" of Mexicans in the United States and said his administration will finance a media campaign to underline immigrant success stories.

Calderon made his remarks one day before his environment minister, Rafael Elvira Quesada, is scheduled to release a report concluding that the U.S.-Mexico border wall is damaging the environment.

Calderon's statement on the U.S. presidential race caught many people here by surprise. Addressing delegates at a conference sponsored by the Mexican government agency that assists migrants, he said: "It is my duty to make a respectful but firm call to the candidates of the various political parties in the United States for them to stop using Mexicans in that country as thematic hostages of their speeches and their strategies."

Calderon has frequently criticized U.S. immigration policy, but it is unusual for a Mexican president to make such a direct comment about U.S. presidential campaign.

Immigration has emerged as a hot-button issue, consistently ranking high on the list of voter concerns and figuring prominently in debates.

Given the national focus on immigration, it is very unlikely that candidates would heed Calderon's call.

"Good luck," said Michael Dimock, associate director of the Pew Research Center, of Calderon's plea.