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Texas lawmakers (R-John Cornyn) want Mexicans treated like Canadians in U.S. travels
azstarnet.com ^
| Nov 6, 2003
| AP
Posted on 11/06/2003 6:34:20 PM PST by VU4G10
WASHINGTON Texas lawmakers are calling on the Department of Homeland Security to give Mexicans the same freedoms Canadians get when traveling through the United States.
Mexicans can stay up to 72 hours in the United States, but must have a border crossing card, also known as a laser visa, from a U.S. consulate when traveling to the United States for tourism, visits with relatives or to do business.
Their travel is restricted to up to 25 miles from the border, except at certain ports of entry on the Arizona-Mexico border.
Canadians can stay in the United States up to six months and are granted entry with proof or declaration of Canadian citizenship. They are free to travel throughout the United States.
To stay in the country six months, a Mexican must have a border crossing card, submit a form, an I-94, at a port of entry and pay $6. A Mexican wanting to travel beyond the 25 miles from the border must apply for a regular tourist or business visa.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, say the unequal treatment of Mexicans, hurts the economies of U.S. communities along the U.S.-Mexican border.
I have not found any good reason why we would treat people from Mexico and Canada differently, Cornyn said. Mexicans come in. They invest in our real estate. They have businesses. They make a tremendous contribution to our economy. Cornyn plans to introduce legislation on the issue as early as Friday.
Cross border traffic is common in many border cities. At some U.S. malls on the border, cars with Mexican license plates are readily spotted in parking lots. Some families have relatives on both sides of the border and some business have offices on each side.
Were happy to work with Congress on any rules and regulations that they would like to change. We have to look into it to see what should be or could be done, said Danielle Sheahan, a spokeswoman for Customs and Border Protection in the Homeland Security Department. She did not immediately know why the different restrictions were created for Mexicans.
Ortiz was plans to send a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge urging him to revise the policies. Ortiz said the policies can be changed administratively, without congressional action. We are asking that you do precisely that, Ortiz said in the letter he was circulating among border state lawmakers Thursday for signatures.
Border business officials brought the differences in treatment of Mexican and Canadian citizens to the lawmakers attention. We see our Mexico border neighbors as one of us. Weve been raised here and we see our neighbors as part of economic development, said Norberto Salinas, mayor of Mission. When we go to Mexico, we dont get 72 hours.
The disparity has become more visible as the federal government has adopted tighter border security measures since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Cornyn said that the checks of some laser visa holders has shown that some Mexicans stay past the 72 hours, but the limit previously was not strictly enforced.
He and Ortiz are concerned that as the federal government puts in place an entry-exit system to ensure foreigners dont overstay their visas, Mexicans will have more trouble crossing into the United States.
Theres just a big disconnect between the reality of life on our border and the understanding of government officials inside the Beltway, Cornyn said. We ought not to create obstacles for people who contribute to the economy.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Mexico
KEYWORDS: borders; cornyn; illegal; immigraion; johncornyn; mexico; s1387; texas
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1
posted on
11/06/2003 6:34:21 PM PST
by
VU4G10
To: VU4G10
Yeah, we also have millions upon millions of Canadians who are here illegally. Right.
2
posted on
11/06/2003 6:39:11 PM PST
by
nikola
To: VU4G10
Cornyn is an idiot, turning out to be quite the RINO. He doesn't see any difference between Mexicans and Canadians who come into this country?!? Did he say that with a straight face?
It's about time I pull his address from his website and send him a copy of VDH's
Mexifornia?
For you Texans who care about not following down California's path, you can email Cornyn at this website.
3
posted on
11/06/2003 6:44:43 PM PST
by
Akira
(Blessed are the cheesemakers.)
To: Akira
Speaking as a Californian, you got that right. Now they are demanding to VOTE in local school board elections where their children attend and overcrowd (at our expense). Of course, that's in San Francisco, and no outlandish request by any 'group' is ever denied, so consider it done - illegals voting and not even having to sneak to do it.
4
posted on
11/06/2003 6:48:11 PM PST
by
ysoitanly
To: ysoitanly
I just emailed Cornyn, that quote was too much.
Yes, I'm aware of the problem in your state, my fiance is currently teaching there right now (but further down south), so I get all of the horror stories. The crap Davis pulled made me sick, and I fear it will be here before too long. Cornyn is a Republican, for crying out loud.
5
posted on
11/06/2003 6:56:42 PM PST
by
Akira
(Blessed are the cheesemakers.)
To: VU4G10
Texas lawmakers (R-John Cornyn) want Mexicans treated like Canadians in U.S. travels
Cornyn has that bass ackwards.
6
posted on
11/06/2003 6:58:37 PM PST
by
Paleo Conservative
(Do not remove this tag under penalty of law.)
To: HiJinx
ping
To: VU4G10
Yup, treat them like Canadians - they all go home in the Spring! ... or give them a free train ride from the Mex border to the Canadian border.
8
posted on
11/06/2003 7:14:16 PM PST
by
Henchman
(I Hench, therefore I am!)
To: VU4G10
Cornhole is a new Senator and ever since he got elected his number one issue is helping illegal aliens.
Bush wants a amnesty for illegals but doesn't want to come out and say it so he has people like Cornhole do it for him. Bush is a sneaky bastard.
9
posted on
11/06/2003 8:57:47 PM PST
by
Be active
To: VU4G10
Ugh. That Cornyn makes me sick to my stomach. I'm glad I didn't cast my vote for him. More pandering to the f(*^&^& illegal aliens just waiting to cross into the promised land so that they can live out the rest of their lives in luxurious squalor, bought and paid for on the backs of middle class legal Americans from all corners of the planet.
To: Akira
Thank you for the link to his e-mail.
I am so mad reading this as I don't think I could look it up. One of the main things I know about Canada is they pay for their citizens health care. I have even seen them fly a plane to the valley to take their sick home, back to Canada.
They take care of their own, Mexico is nothing but a leech on our backs.
11
posted on
11/06/2003 10:09:40 PM PST
by
texastoo
To: VU4G10
Bump
12
posted on
11/06/2003 10:12:27 PM PST
by
PRND21
To: VU4G10
![](http://members.shaw.ca/victoriausa/SaberCrouch.jpg)
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The Illegal Alien Amnesty of Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) - S.1387 - full text
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Posted by Sabertooth On 10/12/2003 5:18 PM PDT with 38 comments
October 12th, 2003 | Sabertooth In July of this year, Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced his Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2003 (full text below), for the purpose of establishing new regulations on foreign-born "guest workers" in the Untied States. Several sections of Cornyn's legislation warrant a bit of scrutiny... SEC. 218A. GUEST WORKER PROGRAMS. (i) ABSOLUTION FOR PAST ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR- An alien who participates in a guest worker program shall be absolved of all liability for illegal behavior, as such behavior pertains to the immigration status of the alien, that occurred before the alien's participation in the guest worker program. SEC. 218B....
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R-Cornyn bill would help immigrants, allows millions to work legally in U.S.
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Posted by VU4G10 On 10/10/2003 9:18 AM PDT with 75 comments
www.valleystar.com ^ | NOEL ESPINOZA A new guest-worker program sponsored by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, would allow millions of undocumented immigrants to work legally in the United States. Introduced in the U.S. Senate as the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2003, it would allow seasonal workers to stay in the country for up to nine consecutive months and non-seasonal workers to stay up to a full year not to exceed 36 months during the life of the program. The proposed law would encourage undocumented immigrants to apply for guest-worker status with their employers.In an interview this week, Cornyn said the program...
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Texas senator urges U.S. Congress to tackle migration reform
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Posted by Brian S On 08/15/2003 5:42 PM PDT with 35 comments
Associated Press ^ | 08-15-03 WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press Writer Friday, August 15, 2003 ---------------------------------------- (08-15) 14:39 PDT MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Despite his home state's often-combative relationship with Mexico, a U.S. senator from Texas is pushing hard for greater rights for millions of Mexicans living and working illegally in the United States. Speaking in Mexico City on Friday, Republican John Cornyn said it was "past time" for his colleagues in Congress to consider legislation making some form of guest-worker program a reality. "This is an appropriate time to restart negotiations," said Cornyn, who met with Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez during a three-day...
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Cornyn proposes plan for immigrant 'guest workers' (Amnesty)
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Posted by Sabertooth On 07/11/2003 8:38 AM PDT with 14 comments
Dallas Ft. Worth Star-Telegram ^ | July 11th, 2003 | Dave Montgomery Cornyn proposes plan for immigrant 'guest workers' By Dave Montgomery Star-Telegram Washington Bureau John Cornyn WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. John Cornyn launched his first major legislative initiative Thursday, calling for a guest worker program that would enable millions of undocumented immigrants to legally live and work in the United States for up to three years.The bill puts the first-term Texas Republican in the center of politically volatile efforts to overhaul the nation's immigration laws. The issue has strained relations between the Bush administration and Mexican President Vicente Fox, who is pressing the U.S. government to grant legal status to the...
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13
posted on
11/06/2003 10:26:43 PM PST
by
Sabertooth
(No Drivers' Licences for Illegal Aliens. Petition SB60. http://www.saveourlicense.com/n_home.htm)
To: Sabertooth
I just e-mailed the senator. I explained the article that I had read about Canada and Mexicans crossing the border.
Then I said,"We need to take this one step further. Could you please explain why the Mexican government doesn't take the responsibility of their citizens like the Canadian government does?" I then explained how I knew it to be a fact that Canada flies all the way to the border to pick up their patients and pays their bills.
I also told him I had read his guest worker bill and nowhere does it mention the fact that Mexico should be responsible for their citizens health care. I suggested he tie Mexican oil with this bil to pay for health care.
I almost went into a rant about the high insurance premiums and the fact everyone knows the reason being the high cost of illegals. I did not call them undocumented either.
I suggested some texas newspaper articles about increased insurance premiums and gave him a personal example of Americans having to cross the border to get cheaper health care. I asked him if he has ever seen a union strike for only health insurance?
I told him that America has the greatest health care system the world has ever known. Hopefully, you and congress will not destroy it.
I was angry when I wrote this e-mail, so I let it all hang out. But I wasn't ugly to him. The only thing that may have sounded bad was when I said "hopefully, you and congress will not destroy it." Maybe, I will get an answer.
14
posted on
11/07/2003 12:12:27 AM PST
by
texastoo
To: Sabertooth
..Keep putting this information out. Great work.
15
posted on
11/07/2003 12:15:10 AM PST
by
Pro-Bush
(Homeland Security + Tom Ridge = Open Borders --> Demand Change!)
To: texastoo
Yes, I completely agree. Email Cornyn and please help him make the distinction. Tell him you're a Republican who is really starting to worry about him, that he's losing your support. Maybe that will wake him up. I emailed him last night, there's an interface for emailing him on that page I linked to.
16
posted on
11/07/2003 6:49:38 AM PST
by
Akira
(Blessed are the cheesemakers.)
To: VU4G10
Yay for the Republicans!
Sheesh.....
To: Akira
Freeped and Bumped.
"Dang it John, you're turning out to be quite the RINO for someone who hasn't even been in ofice a year. You are way too soft on immigration. Why don't you worry about what's fair for Texans for a change rather than what's fair for Mexican nationals. Especially the illegal ones. I haven't heard about you being involved in anything other than kissing up to the Mexicans. I'm becoming very disappointed with you."
18
posted on
11/07/2003 3:33:56 PM PST
by
johnb838
(What about MY right to free speech?)
To: BeerSwillr
I'm a long-distance runner. Today I did my weekly long run because I'm busy this weekend. I might have been in Mexico. Didn't see a single person working who wasn't mexican. Even knowing how things are it was still a shock -- especially since they were doing all the construction jobs too. Why aren't the Blacks more upset about this?
19
posted on
11/07/2003 3:37:31 PM PST
by
johnb838
(What about MY right to free speech?)
To: VU4G10
Another great Hee Haw thread, loaded with insight from the fine sort of Californians that ensured absolute Democrat control of their state for so many years......
20
posted on
11/07/2003 3:43:03 PM PST
by
Chancellor Palpatine
(something is wrong with a game where Lil gets back in to vote Savage out)
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