Thread: Mexicans Given Free Ride To Work While Americans Have To 'Ju

Mexicans Given Free Ride To Work While Americans Have To 'Jump Through Hoops' To Work In Mexico

American worker in Mexico says the Mexican authorities keep close tabs on foreign workers, forcing bribes, taking fingerprints and checking bank accounts.
8 May 2006

By Greg Szymanski

According to a director for Southwest Bell Telephone, the Mexican government makes American citizens "jump through hoops" before being allowed to work on the other side of the border.



The Mexican government also keeps close tabs on American workers, checking bank accounts, taking fingerprints and requiring photographs.



The director, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of losing his job, said the U.S. government should provide the same stringent rules as does its Mexican counterpart when it comes to illegal aliens attempting to work in America.



The following story, dubbed Immigration Mexican Style, shows the double standard used on American citizens, as opposed to the free ride given to Mexicans crossing the border.



Here's what the Southwest Bell Director told the Arctic Beacon about the tough immigration policies when he and his wife attempted to work in Mexico, as well as relating some other strange things going on south of the border:



I spent five years working in Mexico. I worked under a tourist visa for three months and could legally renew it for three more months. After that you were working illegally. I was technically illegal for three weeks waiting on the FM 3 approval.



During that six months our Mexican and U.S. Attorneys were working to secure a permanent work visa called a FM 3. It was in addition to my US passport that I had to show each time I entered and left the country. Barbara's (my wife) was the same except hers did not permit her to work.



To apply for the FM 3 I needed to submit the following notarized originals -- not copies -- of my:



1. Birth certificates for Barbara and me.

2. Marriage certificate.

3. High school transcripts and proof of graduation.

4. College transcripts for every college I attended and proof of graduation.

5. Two letters of recommendation from supervisors I had worked for at least one year.

6. A letter from The St. Louis Chief of Police indicating I had no arrest record in the U.S. and no outstanding warrants and was "a citizen in good standing."

7. Finally; I had to write a letter about myself that clearly stated why there was no Mexican citizen with my skills and why my skills were important to Mexico. We called it our "I am the greatest person on earth "letter. It was fun to write.



All of the above were in English that had to be translated into Spanish and be certified as legal translations and our signatures notarized It all produced a folder about 1.5 inches thick with English on the left side and Spanish on the right.



Once they were completed Barbara and I spent about five hours accompanied by a Mexican attorney touring Mexican government office locations and being photographed and fingerprinted at least three times. At each location (and we remember at least four locations) we were instructed on Mexican tax, labor, housing, and criminal law and that we were required to obey their laws or face the consequences. We could not protest any of the government's actions or we would be committing a felony.



We paid out four thousand dollars in fees and bribes to complete the process. When this was done we could legally bring in our household good that were held by US customs in Laredo, Texas. This meant we rented furniture in Mexico while awaiting our goods.



There were extensive fees involved here that the company paid. We could not buy a home and were required to rent at very high rates and under contract and compliance with Mexican law. We were required to get a Mexican drivers license. This was an amazing process. The company arranged for the licensing agency to come to our headquarters location with their photography and finger print equipment and the laminating machine.



We showed our US license, were photographed and fingerprinted again, and issued the license instantly after paying out a six dollar fee. We did not take a written or driving test and never received instructions on the rules of the road. Our only instruction was never give a policeman your license if stopped and asked. We were instructed to hold it against the inside window away from his grasp. If he got his hands on it you would have to pay ransom to get it back.



We then had to pay and file Mexican income tax annually using the number of our FM 3 as our ID number. The company's Mexican accountants did this for us and we just signed what they prepared. It was about twenty legal size pages annually. The FM 3 was good for three years and renewable for two more after paying more fees.



Leaving the country meant turning in the FM 3 and certifying we were leaving no debts behind and no outstanding legal affairs (warrants, tickets or liens) before our household goods were released to customs. It was a real adventure and If any of our senators or congressmen went through it once they would have a different attitude toward Mexico.



The Mexican Government uses its vast military and police forces to keep its citizens intimidated and compliant. They never protest at their White House or government offices but do protest daily in front of the United States Embassy. The US Embassy looks like a strongly reinforced fortress and during most protests the Mexican Military surround the block with their men standing shoulder to shoulder in full riot gear to protect the Embassy.



These protests are never shown on US or Mexican TV. There is a large public park

across the street where they do their protesting. Anything can cause a protest such as proposed law changes in California or Texas.



For more informative articles, go to www.arcticbeacon.com

Greg Szymanski Greg also has his own daily show on the Republic Broadcast Network. Go to www.rbnlive.com Greg Szymanski is an independent investigative journalist and his articles can been seen at www.LewisNews.com. He also writes for American Free Press and has his own site www.arcticbeacon.com

Listen to my Radio Broadcast live Monday night at 8pm Pacific time on LewisNews, returning Jan. 1 2006 Radio http://webs.lewisnews.com/radio/index.htm. Greg is also regular on Rense.com the first Thursday of every month at 9-10 pm pacific time.

http://www.arcticbeacon.com/8-May-2006.html

Why in the world do we let Mexico and Fox dictate to us how we should treat "their" illegal immigrants here in our own country, when they in turn treaat our Legal citizens to their country so deplorable? What a laugh in private they must get, making our President jump through their hoops! Enough is enough, when is this going to be over?