Thread: Pro-immigration group to launch ads

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.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070604/ap_ ... campaign_3

they did something like this during the "Bracero" program. some never got the money promised them....they died without ever receiving it. this is just a way to rip them off and make their payroll even cheaper. somehow the money will disappear and no one will no where it is or be accountable for it. I cant believe they are trying to do this again.

When will they stop!!??

Mexicans and Americans Thinking Together

Well, let's see here, how do we meld the differences between these geographically proximate national neighbors...

They have:

Different histories (settlement by Spanish vs. Spanish, French, Russian, English, etc)

Different languages (English vs. Spanish)

Different government structures

Different socio-economic / class societal structures,

Different approach to taxation and social welfare,

Different influence and distribution of religion in society,

Different approaches and roles of education in society,

Different levels of industrialization,

Different approaches to investment and property rights,

Different approaches to civil liberties and respect for the rights of non-majority peoples, not to mention, the inequity in gender treatment,

Differing abilities and projection of power in the international realm,

Different <ad nauseum>... OK - you might begin to understand that maybe we are much more different than we are similar...


Gee, we have SOOOOO much in common! Sure, let's talk about it.
Are we done yet???

While they are creating a special savings account they can no doubt take advantage of a new guest worker loan program. Big bankers love giving loans to uneducated poor people with high interest rates.