Thread: Editorial CRAP/U.S. owes Mexicans more, not less

The terrible mistake of revoking birthright citizenship: U.S. owes Mexicans more, not less

By Rogers M. Smith

Thursday, January 6th 2011, 4:00 AM

As the new Congress convened, a group called State Legislators for Legal Immigration proposed two laws. One would declare that children of parents who immigrated here illegally are not born "subject to the jurisdiction" of the U.S. and so are not birthright citizens under the 14th Amendment. Under the other, states would issue two types of birth certificates, one for those born "subject to the jurisdiction" of the U.S. and one for everyone else.

The states have no power to pass the first proposed law. Congress may be able to, but it is a bad idea that will not halt illegal immigration. It also has no chance to pass the Senate or override President Obama's certain veto. If it were enacted, the courts would strike it down. It is symbolic politics expressing special hostility to Mexican immigrants, who comprise almost 60% of the nation's undocumented population.

This is a the opposite of how we should be making immigration policy. The U.S. owes more, not less, to Mexico and its immigrants than it does to other nations.

Why? Because the U.S. has treated Mexico in ways that it has treated no other nation, creating potent incentives for Mexicans to move north. Yet our immigration policy applies the same per-country cap to Mexico that it does to countries from which few wish to leave.

If the U.S. apportioned more of its overall legal immigration admissions to Mexicans, it would do far more to reduce its numbers of illegal aliens than any change in birthright citizenship would.

To suggest that the U.S. privilege Mexicans over other nationals is heresy in Washington - not to mention in Arizona.

But it is common sense if one studies history.

The story begins in 1846, when partly due to concerns that Mexico had abolished slavery, the U.S. provoked a war that resulted in America acquiring half of Mexico's territory, including the vast natural resources of California and Texas. No other nation has lost so much land to the U.S. except the Indian tribes, whose members now all have citizenship. Mexicans could stay on their conquered lands if they became American citizens. But few could provide land titles to American courts, so most lost their lands and had to work for U.S.-owned farms, mines and industries.

In the late 19th century, the modernizing Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz drove many Mexican small farmers off their soil, turning the lands over to American-owned railroads and mining companies, who employed many of those they helped displace.

Patterns were set: Many Mexicans found they could make a living only by working for American companies, often moving to the resource-rich north to do so. Through the 20th century, American employers in farming, manufacturing and service industries often recruited Mexicans when cheap labor was needed - then callously supported mass deportations, even of Mexican-American citizens, when labor surpluses arose.

Meanwhile, many Mexicans in the U.S. suffered from severe discrimination, despite their desire to work hard and contribute to America. Many, therefore, had strong senses of their distinct cultural identities, developing a kind of cultural "dual nationality," American and Mexican.

In sum, U.S. policies have created to our south a large population that has strong kinship ties to Mexican-American communities and well-founded beliefs that they have better economic opportunities in northern areas, many once part of Mexico, than they do at home. They immigrate, more than any other nation's people - and most are then productive, peaceful residents who seek to retain their cultural identities, like many other Americans, but who are glad to become loyal citizens.

Not all Mexicans fit those descriptions. But if the U.S. altered its policies to expand opportunities for those who do, it would reduce illegal immigration and express the best American values.

Smith is Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/2agodka

gee its from that rag new york daily news.

Congratulations to the writer of this article...

It was the dumbest and most absurd article ever...

The U S owes everyone everything in this persons eyes and all Americans should jump in a lake...

What an idiot.

I HATE IT THE U.S OWES MEXICO NOTHING AND THATS A FACT. WHY IS IT THAT ALL OF THESE RATS ARE COMING OUT OF THE WOOD WORK WITH THIS BS ITS BECAUSE OF IDIOTS LIKE THIS ONE THAT ILLEGAL MEXICANS THINK THE U.S STOLE FROM THEM WHEN ITS THE OTHER WAY AROUND THEY HAVE STOLEN JOBS, EDUCATION FOR THEIR ILLEGAL SPAWN AS WELL AS FREE HEALTH CARE BTW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CITIZENS CAN'T GET. THE LIST JUST GOES ON AND ON AND, ITS TIME FOR IT TO STOP. AMERICANS ARE GETTING TIRED OF TAKING CARE OF NON CITZENS IN THIS COUNTRY. THE MORE YOU GIVE THEM, THE MORE THEY DEMAND

This articles stance is about as stupid as reparations to the Turks today for land they lost when the Ottoman Empire collapsed. Try selling that idea in Europe. To the victor go the spoils.....that is as old as history itself.

The problem is the "reconquista" of what is now parts of the sourthern U.S. by Mexico propaganda permeates education in Mexicos schools today and has for years.

Originally Posted by Ratbstard

The terrible mistake of revoking birthright citizenship: U.S. owes Mexicans more, not less

In the late 19th century, the modernizing Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz drove many Mexican small farmers off their soil, turning the lands over to American-owned railroads and mining companies, who employed many of those they helped displace.

By what logic is the US blamed for what Diaz did and Mexico is NEVER at fault, just some poor pitiful victim who has no hand in anything that happens to their people?

hahahahahahahha.......heheheheheh.....hahahahah - what gargage.

An article in the hispanically speaking news today was about in Texas a politician stated Texas would lose millions in Mexican investor money should the proposed anti-immigration laws that are proposed be enacted into law. Looks like they are going to play the ol "I am going to invest somewhere else" card now.

Doesn't congress have the power to over ride Obama's veto?

Yeah, lets just legalize all Mexicans instead of taking away incentives to come here illegally. The only problem with that is THEY WOULD STILL BE HERE DRAINING EVERYTHING WE HAVE!

The story begins in 1846, when partly due to concerns that Mexico had abolished slavery, the U.S. provoked a war that resulted in America acquiring half of Mexico's territory, including the vast natural resources of California and Texas.

whaaattt???

Texas' succession from Mexico wasn't about slavery.

Def