Fox: Migrants don't want U.S. citizenship

El Universal ^ | 10 January 2004 | Mark Stevenson/AP

[JackelopeBreeder]

THE PRESIDENT PRAISES THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES AND SAYS HE AGREES WITH THE AMNESTY REJECTION.

BY MARK STEVENSON/Associated Press

President Vicente Fox said Friday that undocumented Mexican migrants don't want U.S. citizenship, contradicting immigration activists who demand naturalization and oppose any proposal that doesn't include it.

Fox strongly defended U.S. President George W. Bush's migration reform proposal, and in remarks to foreign reporters, called attention to divisions over the issue in the Mexican-American community in the United States.

"We agree with the rejection of amnesty. These workers are not going to become American citizens, nor do they want U.S. citizenship," Fox said of the estimated 4 million undocumented Mexican workers in the United States.

"What they are interested in is in having their rights respected, getting good pay for their work, and being with their families," the president said.

"For that reason, the issue of amnesty is out," Fox continued. "Nobody is looking for this, they (the workers) don't want it, we (the Mexican government) haven't asked for it and President Bush has no intention of (granting) it." That clashed strongly with the views like those of California-based immigrant activist Claudia Smith, who criticized the proposed three-year guestworker visas.

"It's supremely disappointing that this offers no general amnesty for those undocumented workers already in the United States," Smith's office said in a press statement. "It's something we owe to those who have contributed so much to another country." Ed Leahy, coordinator of the Immigrant Rights Network of Iowa and Nebraska, said "the undocumented immigrants I know who want to remain here ... who want to contribute fully, don't want to go home in three years." Fox has also drawn criticism over his support for the Bush plan at home, where many newspapers have blasted the proposal for lacking an amnesty provision and requiring undocumented workers to register with the U.S. government.

"The Mexican government should stop applauding this plan and instead, take it with a grain of salt," a Mexico City newspaper wrote in an editorial.

Fox stressed that there are conflicting views within the Mexican-American community on the issue.

"In the so-called Hispanic or migrant community, there are different categories and statuses," he said. "There are Mexican-Americans, Mexicans who have gotten U.S. citizenship, dual nationals and illegals." "The Mexican-Americans or Mexicans there with documents are probably worried about competition from them (undocumented workers)," Fox said. "For that reason, there are differing points of view." Fox, however, shares other concerns raised by activists about the Bush plan especially the limited number of guest worker visas that might be offered.

"It's hard to imagine a guestworker program offering enough capacity to meet the needs of millions of undocumented workers already on hand, as well as those planning to go the United States," Smith said. She cited a research report that indicated about one-fifth of Mexico's 105 million people would consider going to the United States if they had a chance.

The president acknowledged that "more is needed. There are requests for more ... temporary work visas. They have to be reviewed and the number increased as demand increases."

There may also be an economic motive behind Fox's stance against amnesty. Workers who become U.S. citizens can invite their families to join them north of the border and thus have less incentive to send home remittances.

The US12 to US14 billion sent home annually by migrants has become this country's second-largest source of foreign income, exceeded only by oil sales.

But the proposed immigration reform has dramatically improved relations between the U.S. and Mexican governments, which turned frosty following the two countries differences over the war in Iraq.

In euphoric language he has seldom used since 2001, Fox said "we are enchanted with our relationship with the United States, it's very constructive, very positive and it's starting to yield fruit." Fox said that in the coming year he plans to visit the United States "as frequently as possible."

[JackelopeBreeder]

There may also be an economic motive behind Fox's stance against amnesty. Workers who become U.S. citizens can invite their families to join them north of the border and thus have less incentive to send home remittances.

The US12 to US14 billion sent home annually by migrants has become this country's second-largest source of foreign income, exceeded only by oil sales.

Oops, that little secret wasn't supposed to come out, was it, Vicente?

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[dano1]

This is really good for the Republicans. I bet Bush had this wired before he made his announcement.

[lormand]

Message to Vincente Fox

Clean up your filty country. It reeks of corruption and cronyism. Then maybe it's people will have hope.

[Arpege92]

"We are enchanted with our relationship with the United States, it's very constructive, very positive and it's starting to yield fruit."

I'm NOT enchanted with our relationship with Mexico. It's very destructive, very negative and it has already begun to steal our fruit.

Fox is a jerk and so are we if we agree to this program. Fox claims they want nothing more than to work in this country but the actions of the illegal aliens is saying something different. It's not wrong for American citizens to want to control who comes and goes from our country. It doesn't make us evil and it doesn't make us racists. It makes us smart....and anyone who says differently is a liar!

[primeval patriot]

Vincente should get an honorary appointment as U.S. Secretary of Labor.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

They just come to pillage.

[Sacajaweau]

You better believe it.

[longtermmemmory]

Vincente Fox stikes me as one of those non-friend friends. He is like a human France. A biff tannon that needs a manure bath.

Bush needs to distance himself from this "friend".

[Dr. Marten]

"Fox: Migrants don't want U.S. citizenship"

Then let them stay in Mexico..

[RhoTheta]

Here is an AP reporter, writing about Vicente Fox's take on the amnesty/foreign workers issue. The relationship that he seems to be euphoric about sounds parasitic to me: We'll send our Mexican Citizens over to your country to work, and we want you to afford our Mexican Citizens all the benefits and perks you offer American Citizens (but we won't give them here), and we want a lot of the US dollars they earn to flow, unencumbered to their families in Mexico where it helps our economy big time. Sweet!

[hedgetrimmer]

Agenda of the Summit of the Américas the migratory subject is not contemplated, assures John Maisto, ambassador of EU before the O.A.S. Javier Heron, Washington correspondent?

The discussion in some migratory agreement between the president of the United States, George W. Bush, and other leaders of the continent it will be outside the Summit of the Américas that will take place in Monterrey in next January. John Maisto, ambassador of the United States before the Organization of American States, assured that the agenda of the Summit is defined and that the migratory subject is not contemplated. The dominant subjects will be economic growth, social development and democracy.

Nevertheless, within the economic subject, it is contemplated that the agent chief executives touch the subject of the money remittances that are sent, mainly, from the United States to the rest of the continent. In agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank, the amount of sent money every year ascends to 32 billion dollars. Maisto advanced that the presidents will look for the way to reduce the cost of the money shipment, that at the moment divides equally 12,5 percents of each shipment.

Another subject that will be outside the discussions is the one of commerce, then, according to Maisto, the main lines for the Agreement of Free Commerce of Américas (ALCA) were defined in a ministerial meeting in Miami the last month.

President Bush will participate in the Summit of Monterrey the 12 and the 13 of January, along with the other 33 agent chief executives of the Western Hemishpere, with exception of Cuban Fidel I castrate. Maisto did not confirm if Bush has planned bilateral encounter with other agent chief executives.

In means conference, the diplomat rejected the commentaries according to which the United States does not consider their relation with Latin America high-priority. ?La notion from which to this country nonblock with the facts does not concern the Western Hemishpere to him, it said after mentioning several examples of cooperation programs and attendance in which it participates the United States.

The Summit was propose by Canada to evaluate the changes in the region as of 2001 and that had to be treated before the following summit, in Argentina in 2005.

Within the economic agenda, the Summit will focus in the generation of uses and the financing to small and medium companies. According to the I.A.D.B., Latin America she is one of the regions with smaller investment and minor access on credit between the emergent economies of the world.

In the social area, the approach will be mainly education and fights to AIDS, whereas in the political scope the attention is put to the combat to the corruption and the fortification of the democracy. Maisto indicated that the government of the United States hopes of the rest of the continent the political will to throw to walk programs on these subjects, and to design specific goals.

The Summit will also be based on documents of the Summit of Financing for the Development that was celebrated in Monterrey in 2002. Nevertheless, the United States has not announced any specific commitment in their programs of international attendance.

http://www.summit-americas.org/Publications/News%20Articles/Nota%20Heraldo%20ALCA.doc

[B4Ranch]

"so are we if we agree to this program."

I will bet you a dinner in any resturuant in Reno, Nevada that 90% of the politicians who vote for Bush's plan to swamp America with Fox's low class, uneducated Mexicans get re-elected .

Take the bet?

[hedgetrimmer]

The Awkward Truth About Fighting Poverty

By Marcela Sanchez
Special to washingtonpost.com
Thursday, January 1, 2004; 10:33 PM



The leaders will arrive in Monterrey with ambitious strategies for solving the great problem of wealth inequality. Even though the truth of the matter is that in one fascinating, unique and seemingly unstoppable way, wealth is being distributed right under their noses. And all leaders should be hard pressed to address the moral and fundamental dilemma that this fully functioning system now poses.

I am not talking about any far-reaching land reform program or micro-enterprise lending initiative. I am talking about remittances -- the billions of dollars sent every year by migrants in the United States and elsewhere to their families in Latin America. By last count remittances totaled more than $32 billion annually -- an amount so great that it surpasses foreign aid, trade and investment for several countries in the region and now has a place on the short list of the leaders' top considerations for regional economic growth.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45234-2003Dec31.html

[evad]

I bet Bush had this wired before he made his announcement.

You bet..
I wonder if W hasn't pulled a "coup de Fox".

[vetvetdoug]

Non-citizens won't have to pay a lot of taxes. Why pay taxes here if they don't have to pay them? Mexicans may be illegal, immoral and dishonest but they aren't dumb.

[ChefKeith]

I'll second Your post.

These workers live 25 in a small apartment eating beans & rice and send 80% of the money they make back home to the famillia.

And they don't want to have to pay taxes.

[tkathy]

This parasite should be forced to clean up his corrupt, disgusting country first.

[Guillermo]

Anti-Americanism runs deep and strong and across every sector of Mexican "society."

The "elites" in the Media and Academia openly admit that their goals are to see Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona "returned" to Mexico.

Of course, Fox will not openly admit that.

Mexico is an enemy to this country like Iraq was and Iran is. They just have different methods.

[RockyMtnMan]

Why have a revolution at home when you can send the revolutionaries on their merry way across the border?