This is from the English section of La Raza.


2007, La Raza Chicago, Inc
Publicado el 12-28-2007

Desperate Measures

La Raza

Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s administration is beginning to despair and show signs of utter desperation at the climate of harassment and hostility being unleashed against undocumented Mexicans on this side of the border.

Unlike just a few months ago, when he would not discuss the migratory issue, even by mistake, the President has become very active, making statements left and right about what he is going to do about the abuse and the mass deportations of his fellow countrymen. What people have been wondering is, just how effective will these actions be, given that thus far they seem to be only disjointed efforts, more like a candidate’s campaign promises.

A few weeks ago, for example, he issued a plea to the candidates for President of the United States to stop using Mexicans as if they were the source of all the economic and social problems facing this country, just to win voters’ support. Suffice it to say that Calderón’s plea merely elicited a few somewhat ironical smiles.

After this attempt flopped, Calderón then called upon the accredited diplomatic corps in the US to undertake a crusade aimed at improving the image of Mexicans. Among the actions called for were to contact the news media, not just in Spanish but also in English, to show how much these immigrants contribute to this country’s economy. Even though this is a good idea, no one can imagine seeing Lou Dobbs, to name one of television’s leading agitators of anti-immigrant hostility, having one of Mexico’s consuls on his show to expound on the benefits the undocumented immigrants bring to this country

Another idea Calderón and his team came up with was to take legal action against allegedly arbitrary actions taken by US authorities against Mexican citizens. Doing this, however, would call for a huge allocation of funds, of which currently there is none, for hiring first-rate lawyers who can win these court battles.

The Press Secretary of the President of Mexico has also announced that he is considering a visit to the United States in the first quarter of 2008 to discuss the immigration issue. One of the cities on his itinerary would be Chicago.

On December 18, in the course of observation of International Migrants Day, Calderón announced a plan for helping Mexicans deported from the US. Called Humane Repatriation, it would begin in 2008 and provide shelter, food, medical care and even temporary job offers for the repatriates.

“We are building a Mexico where everybody has a place. All who return will have a place again,â€