Immigration has moved to the front burner in this country. Thoughtful people are writing thoughtfully - Jane Galt has a trio (is that a theme today?) of such posts:
Some rambling thoughts on immigration,
Unwanted guests?
More on immigration.
What I haven't seen is what is driving the issue today - it's really about Mexican immigrants and the large influx of illegal immigrants over our border with Mexico. Absent that large flow over a large border, we wouldn't be having this discussion. I guess nobody wants to sound like a racist, but what grabs people's attention isn't how many technically savvy people come in on HB-1 visas from Asia and India, but how many poor Mexicans are willing to risk death to live in the United States.
The stakes are high all around on this issue - for both Mexico and the United States. We really want to get the answer right -- and that does include all aspects of immigration, including how many HB-1 visas are issued.
And let's face it, its better to be poor in the United States than it is in Mexico. I can't say as I blame people who are trying to make a better life for themselves. But we need to balance everybodies interests, and not focus too exclusively on one particular group.
We need to take a dispassionate look at what we want the end state to be, and then figure out how to get there. I'd start with a Mexico that poor people aren't willing to risk death to leave. So our ultimate goal is a Mexico that has the political and economic institutions that are able to take care of all its citizens. Of course, we have to (1) survive in the meantime, while (2) we help Mexico get there. So that means that while we look at the range of options on how the US deals with immigration, we need to always be looking at the effect that these measures have on Mexico (and really all the countries that have people who want to get out). For instance, building a wall along the entire border - what are the effects on immigration, the effects on the US, the effects on Mexico - all these things need to be considered, not just one.
I would beg to differ. I don't think most people who have tried both would agree that it is better to be poor in the US than in Mexico. What I think is really going on is that the poor in Mexico believe that the US is the land of plenty. Certainly, there are more jobs that pay higher wages. So they go to the US. If they don't get caught and they find work, they make more money than they could in many parts of Mexico. But if they end up as poor as they were in Mexico, they end up being a long way from home with no family or support system. And believe me, a person's family IS their wealth in Mexico. There is also a lot more entrepreneuralism here in Mexico. It's a lot easier to start and succeed at a small business here than in the US. So a poor person has more chances of making a little bit of money legally and doesn't feel they have to resort to illegal means.
There is an interesting article in the NYTimes today with figures showing that there has been NO increase in the amount of people immigrating from Mexico to the US per capita in the last twenty years. It also states that research shows that if the borders were open, more Mexicans would go home to Mexico.
Having lived here in Mexico for over four years, I must say that I concur with that statement. Most Mexicans love Mexico and would happily return home for most of the year or every other year if it were easier for them to do so.
Dear President Bush:
=20
I'm about to plan a little trip with my family and extended family,
and I would like to ask you to assist me. I'm going to walk across
the border from the U.S. into Mexico, and I need to make a few
arrangements. I know you can help with this.
I plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports,
immigration quotas and laws. I'm sure they handle those things the
same way you do here.
So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Vicente Fox, that
I'm on my way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting
the following:
1. Free medical care for my entire family.
2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might
need, whether I use them or not.
3. All government forms need to be printed in English.
4. I want my kids to be taught by English-speaking teachers.
5. Schools need to include classes on American culture and history.
6. I want my kids to see the American flag flying on the top of the
flag pole at their school with the Mexican flag flying lower down.
7. Please plan to feed my kids at school for both breakfast and =
lunch.
8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy
access to government services.
9. I do not plan to have any car insurance, and I won't make =
anyeffort to learn local traffic laws.
10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the
memo from Pres. Fox to leave me alone, please be sure that all
police officers speak English.
11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put flag decals
on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not
want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.
12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes,
and don't enforce any labor laws or tax laws.
13. Please tell all the people in the country to be extremely nice
and never say a critical word about me, or about the strain I might =
place on the economy.
I know this is an easy request because our government already does all =
these
things for all the people who come to the U.S. from Mexico. I am
sure that Pres. Fox won't mind returning the favor if you ask him
nicely. However, if he gives you any trouble, just invite him to go =
quail
hunting with your V.P.=20