Thread: Mexican wants legal status for "all its citizens"

http://www.efenews.com/USA/detallenotic ... &id=467707

Mexican wants legal status for "all its citizens" in the U.S.
Chicago, Dec 8 (EFE).- Mexico's top diplomat said here Thursday that his nation wants to see Washington undertake an immigration reform extending legal status to "all the Mexicans in the U.S." The time has come to debate that reform, "without passion, but with reason, because it mutually suits us," Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez said in Chicago, home to a burgeoning Mexican community.

Mexico will continue pointing out to U.S. authorities the need for such an accord, he told business and civic leaders at a breakfast organized by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.

He reminded his audience that since taking office in December 2000, Mexican President Vicente Fox has pressed Washington for legalization of all Mexicans living north of the border, immigration policies favoring family reunification and a pact on guest workers.
Up to 5 million Mexicans are estimated to be living and working in the United States without a visa or Green Card.

Derbez, who arrived in Chicago late Wednesday, had earlier raised the immigration question with city Mayor Richard M. Daley and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, both Democrats.

The governor said after an hour-long meeting with the Mexican official that Illinois does not discriminate against undocumented immigrants, and hailed "the great contribution" made to the state's economy by its 1.5 million Mexican residents.

Derbez acknowledged the U.S. need for a "secure border" in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, noting that Mexico could itself be a target of terrorism because of its proximity to the United States.

He said Mexican authorities do not regard cooperation with Washington on security concerns as an "imposition," but rather as a function "of being partners." The diplomat told Chicago businessmen that an immigration accord would make Mexico "more competitive internationally." "It will give us the chance to create more social benefits for our people. Without an accord, immigration will continue as it has until now, without order," Derbez said.

One of those present, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Jim Oberweis, suggested in a question-and-answer period following Derbez's speech that creating jobs would be a better solution.

Oberweis made battling illegal immigration the centerpiece of his failed 2004 campaign for the Republican nomination for one of Illinois' two seats in the U.S. Senate, gaining in the process the enmity of immigrants' rights groups in the state.

Mexico's ambassador to the United States, Carlos de Icaza, said his government supports a bill proposed by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) that would open the doors to legalization for many, if not most, Mexican immigrants.

The key difference between the McCain-Kennedy measure and the guest-worker program put forward by Republican President George W. Bush is that the Senate bill includes workable provisions for immigrants to obtain citizenship or permanent legal residence, while the administration plan does not.

While Icaza was careful to also describe the Bush proposal in positive terms, he insisted a more comprehensive solution is needed.

"The U.S. economy needs the Mexican workforce to be able to prosper," the envoy said. "A just law should recognize the contribution of Mexican immigrants to the economy of the U.S." EFE jm/dr

This guy must have escaped from the zoo during a storm.

Everytime I see this guy's name it spells TROUBLE.

But I also think this is a "curve ball". It's too bizarre for him to come out and say something so rediculous.

Heads down....curve ball. Time to play boomerang

Bush/Fox playing games with the American people again.
Game # 11,000,000