Question: Why won’t Bush & Fox’s illegal-immigrant plan work?

The Orange County Weekly ^ | 01.23.04 | Gustavo Arellano

[Beck_isright]

Answer: Because Mexicans Never Return to Mexico

Question: Why won’t Bush & Fox’s illegal-immigrant plan work?

by Gustavo Arellano

For years, the only phone in my mother’s hometown of El Cargadero, nestled high in the mountains of the desiccated central Mexican state of Zacatecas, was in the house of Salvador Barrios. Whenever someone received a call, Salvador had to jog up and down El Cargadero’s hilly streets and let the person know that someone wanted to talk to them. It didn’t matter if it was night or day, heat or rain: Salvador ran. But thanks to the thousands of dollars that my mother’s fellow expatriate cargaderenses wired to their birthplace over the decades, the Mexican government finally installed telephones in El Cargadero two years ago—and Salvador’s aching legs finally get a rest.

President Bush cites this modernization of El Cargadero and countless other Mexican ranchos as justification for his half-assed revamping of American immigration policy. Bush is calling for the abolishment of the U.S.-Mexico border—but only for Mexicans who register with American companies willing to employee them for a maximum of six years. There is no call for amnesty in Bush’s proposal. Instead, all participants would only attain the minimal rights guaranteed to American workers, such as minimum wage, safety-regulations and sick leave. As a churro on a stick, Bush also suggests the establishment of a lucrative pension fund that workers can only cash in on when they return to Mexico.

Bush presented his program by arguing that Mexican immigrants come to this country only to earn enough cash that can be lived off in Mexico, a view seconded by President Vicente Fox of Mexico. "[Mexicans] are not going to become American citizens, nor do they want U.S. citizenship," Fox told the Associated Press on Jan. 9. "They want to have their rights respected, to get good pay for their work and to be able to visit their families in Mexico."

But El Cargadero’s reality betrays Fox and Bush’s vision. Despite the rancho’s assumption of suburban infrastructure while retaining its pastoral charm, it is dead. Only the elderly, the young, and the drunk remain. Anyone able to migrate did years ago, with more than 1,000 of us residing in Anaheim alone. And while the capital investments in El Cargadero are spectacular—there are even lawns and sprinklers in some yards nowadays—these are monuments to immigrant entrepreneurship experienced only weeks at a time. The rest of the year, the hard labor of a generation stands deserted, a staid museum display rather than a living, breathing community. Even Salvador Barrios’ house is largely empty: all his children migrated when they turned 18.

My ancestral village’s depressing case isn’t exclusive at all. Modern Mexico has come to this: hamlets eagerly embracing the 21st century but with the majority of its children toiling away in el Norte. They’ve been leaving now for a good century, transforming Latinos into the largest American ethnic group. With Mexico’s economy continuing to stagnate, this phenomenon won’t let up anytime soon.

Immigrants send back money to Mexico by the billions—an estimated $14 billion in 2003—and visit come vacation time, residing in now-lavish houses funded by years of sweat. But that’s all Mexico is to them now, a vacation spot. They invariably trek back to the States after realizing life in Mexico is inferior. They imbibe from the damned American cup of success—the higher wages, better living conditions and modern-day comforts—and find it attractive. They have children, who then assimilate to the point where Mexico means nothing other than food and music and where grandma lives.

Bush’s plan ignores this relevant fact, however, since its implementation would be a victory for the American and Mexican governments. Bush’s big business buddies can now legally fill employment shortages that Americans would easily assume if it wasn’t for the insulting pay. These Mexicans never have a chance of becoming citizens, thereby absolving the United States of any true responsibility toward them. Fox, in turn, doesn’t have to improve his own country and allows his paisanos to leave, ensuring that the restless Mexican nation doesn’t heed its centurial call to revolution. The billions sent back maintain Mexico’s economy—and the Mexican government doesn’t even have to worry about taking care of this money spout.

The losers, of course, are the Mexican immigrants—aren’t they always? "Dear and beloved Mexico/If I die far away from you/May they say that I’m sleeping/And that they return me to you," the immortal charro Jorge Negrete sang in "México, Lindo y Querido." All Mexican immigrants—legal and illegal—maintain the illusion of returning one day to Mexico. But they rarely return permanently, and without any possibility for amnesty, illegal immigrants will continue to live in the shadows. All they will have is an empty house in Mexico, a house that keeps their nostalgia but little else.

[Beck_isright]

I did not say I wouldn't discuss it. I state again, I can not enforce it. Call me a socialist and I'll call you a commie. I can talk about it as well as you. But I can do zero about it because the Roman Senate we have elected in the Legislative branch is no longer accountable to the people.

[Happy2BMe]

"The politicians get back to Washington and from then on, they get their marching orders from the national party, the lobbyests, and the biggest donors, and the rest of us are expected to be good little sheeple, shut up, and work hard to put get them reelected when the time comes."

In one sentence, you have managed to describe the poltical agendas of the two largest political bodies in the United States. The distinctions between the two are becoming smaller every four years. Both say they have the best answers, the best qualified leaders, the best solutions for the economy and the nation and both are becoming more and more distant from those faithful sheeples you mention. .

[Porterville]

What is the biggest detriment to the US economy due to the current policy and the proposed one?

Alright, the current policy encourages illegals to earn low wages and stay under the radar without paying taxes and sending monies outside of the country while companies hoard the labor and profit while not paying taxes on the black market of the labor. The Bush proposal stomps out all incentive. What good is it to hire an illegal alien (or any alien for that matter) if you have to pay them a real wage??? Companies will be forced to higher legal workers, and will most likely hire... English speakers.

[Beck_isright]

"Ever heard of the 2nd Amendment."

Original or Extra Crispy version, LOL?

[Beck_isright]

"The Bush proposal stomps out all incentive."

False. There are no severe penalties for employers nor massive enforcement efforts on all borders.

"Companies will be forced to higher legal workers, and will most likely hire... English speakers"

False again. Refer to above. 2000 INS enforcement agents. 20,000,000 illegals. I'll wager on the latter. The key is not to supress the illegals. It's to attack and penalize the employers.

[navyblue]

Many times. Turkey, Germany, France, UK, Haiti, Grenada, St. Lucia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Canada, Venezuela, Mexico (dozens of times), Antigua, Anguilla, Caymans, Aruba, Bonaire, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE.

Newbie! Lol

[Paul C. Jesup]

I figure it starts somewhere between 2012 to 2016.

[Beck_isright]

"Newbie! Lol"

Does Iraq only count as a short visit? LOL

[Porterville]

I disagree.

[motzman]

When Bush first came out with his proposal, I was quite upset with it...mainly because of what "conservatives" THINK its' all about.

Then, since I'd quickly dismissed other Bush proposals without fully understanding them (i.e. the medical savings accts in the prescrip. bill are worth the cost of the bill alone), I did a little reading of Bush's "proposal", and I'm with you--if this is done right, it's genius.

People are forgetting a few things...

1) There's a lot of details that have yet to be fleshed out that will be good (i.e. workers having children here will not get auto US citizenship, etc.)

2) Enforcement will be much more integral to the "proposal" than most realize (there's no reason to bring it up now)

3) Strategery--Bush is so good at this stuff that he's fooling our own people. Wild overreactions to trial balloon proposals. The only people who should be nervous about this are illegals who are unwilling to register, and unethical employers who hire illegals to begin with. And that's a good thing.

When the details are hashed out on this, it will be very good, and take away the incentive for employers to hire illegals. Which is the reason why we have this "problem" in the first place.

The lack of trust for Bush here is disturbing.

[Porterville]

psst, I've been here longer then you, I've changed my name twice.

[Porterville]

That is why I keep fighting the Anti-Bushies, because the base shouldn't loose sight of the plan... they need to play more chess or even a couple of video games.

[DonnerT]

Exactly why I quit the party.

Me too. But it only took me 4 years to learn.

[Porterville]

You're ex-Navy?

[Beck_isright]

No...

[Tamzee]

"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."-Alexander Hamilton.... Ah, yes. Hamilton would be so PROUD of you both, letting the America-despising Kerry take over our country. Perhaps if we're very, very lucky Kerry would be willing to fly the flag right-side up at our White House.

[motzman]

Lots of bomb-throwing Buchanonites and nervous-nelly republicans here...

So little faith..

[TheDon]

They have children, who then assimilate to the point where Mexico means nothing other than food and music and where grandma lives.

What, no Azatlan?