Pro-immigration group to launch ads
By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer
Mon Jun 4, 7:54 PM ET



A pro-immigration group is promoting the idea of using savings accounts as incentives for foreign-born temporary workers to return home if they wish to cash in on their nest eggs.

The group, Mexicans and Americans Thinking Together, is launching a $2 million ad campaign to press Congress to pass an immigration reform bill, with the savings accounts as one idea to help build more support for the legislation.

The nonpartisan group, based in San Antonio, says the accounts could operate like retirement accounts, with payroll deductions for workers and contributions from employers. In order to gain access to the money, the worker would have to leave the U.S.

Congress returns this week from its weeklong Memorial Day recess with the Senate renewing debate on an immigration bill.

The Senate bill calls for providing two-year visas to 200,000 temporary workers. They could renew the visas twice more for up to six years of work, but they would have to leave the country for a year each time before renewing the visa.

Lionel Sosa, executive director of the foundation, said there are no incentives for workers to leave the country.

"They want the new workers to work here two years and go back one year. But what are they going to do when they go back to Mexico for one year?" said Sosa, a San Antonio advertising executive whose ad campaigns for Republicans, including President Bush, target Latino audiences.

Sosa said his group will support an immigration bill even if the savings account idea is not part of it.

His group also suggests that five-year temporary visas may make it easier for temporary workers to return home and that providing money for "micro-loans" for entrepreneurs in Mexico would help build jobs there.

Critics of the savings account, however, say a number of safeguards would have to be in place to prevent the problems experienced by farmworkers brought to the U.S. during World War II in the Bracero program. Portions of their checks were withheld for savings and retirement funds to get them to return home, but many never saw the money.

The group's ads will launch Tuesday night during the National Council of La Raza's ALMA Awards show. They'll be followed by more television ads in mid-June and full-page ads in major newspapers.

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