Thread: UT:BYU brought the immigration debate home on Wednesday

BYU alum offers Mexico's view on immigration PDF
BRITTANI LUSK - Daily Herald

BYU brought the immigration debate home on Wednesday.

Alexander Hawkes, a BYU alumnus who is also vice counsel of the U.S. Embassy in Guadalajara, Mexico, spoke to students about immigration -- from the Mexican perspective.

Hawkes said many Mexicans view immigration as the right thing to do for Mexican families and the Mexican economy.

"There isn't really a lot of debate about whether it's right or wrong," Hawkes said.

Hawkes has been working in Mexico for about a year interviewing thousands of Mexicans who would like to come to the United States.

"In the course of that work I've been able to get a good perspective of what their attitudes and perceptions are towards immigration," Hawkes said.

He said it is his experience that Mexicans view immigration differently than many Americans.

"The debate in Mexico is very different from the debate you see here in the United States," Hawkes said.

Hawkes showed pictures from a protest held outside the U.S.

A pro-immigration view hasn't always been the consensus. Hawkes told students that the position of the Mexican government and the perception of the people has changed. Decades ago immigration was looked down upon.

"Immigration was really seen as a cop-out, or Mexicans that would go to the United States were kind of seen as traitors," Hawkes said. "Today, the Mexican government has a very different approach."

Jesus Rosas, a senior from Mexico, said immigration policy needs to be thought about on a wordwide scale.

"I believe in a global world," Rosas said.

He said the goal of a government should be to promote the well-being of its citizens. The goal is not nationalism or patriotism.

Remittances, or money sent back to Mexico from those working in America, are a substantial part of the Mexican economy. They are the second highest source of revenue behind oil.

"It's almost a right of passage. It's almost expected of them," Hawkes said about young men in some Mexican villages who leave to work in the United States.

While preparing his presentation, Hawkes asked some of his Mexican colleagues where many of their peers would like to be.

"They agreed that most Mexicans would probably rather live in Mexico. That's where their families are. That's where they grew up. That's where their roots are, but because of the lack of economic opportunities, lack of employment, low wages, it forces them to migrate to the United States," Hawkes said.

Rosas said Hawkes's perspective was accurate. But it left him wanting to ask more questions about U.S. policy.

BYU junior Greg Skidmore, came to the lecture because he is interested in working for the state department and appreciated hearing about the other side of the immigration debate.

"I liked a lot the perspective he gave us," Skidmore said. "Too often we debate without knowing the other side."

Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-3549 or at blusk@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.


http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/229450/4/

What a LOAD ..of crap!

Hmm.. makes me wonder how influential religion, especially CORPORATE religion, has to play on immigration AND Migration!






Nice day all
Rob
www.NetLog.com/iQuestionEverything