Posted on 03/03/2005 7:09:00 PM PST by NormsRevenge
A majority of Mexican migrants living and working in the United States would be willing to participate in a temporary-worker program, according to a recent nationwide survey, even many of those who say they would prefer to stay in the country indefinitely.
The survey of 4,836 migrants was taken by the Pew Hispanic Center in Washington, D.C., with respondents surveyed as they applied at Mexican consulates in seven U.S. cities for consular identification cards, frequently used as ID by undocumented immigrants.
While respondents were not asked about their immigration status, slightly more than half said they had no form of photo identification issued by a U.S. agency.
The migrants were asked four questions to gauge their interest in immigration programs that would offer different types of legal status, in particular a temporary guest worker program along the lines of a broad proposal made by the Bush administration.
Of those surveyed, 71 percent responded that they would participate in a guest worker program that allowed them to work legally in the United States on the condition that they eventually return to Mexico. Migrants responded similarly when asked if they would be willing to participate in programs proposed by some Democrats that could lead to permanent legal status.
"This suggests that a large part of this population is open to the possibility of those programs which require a return to Mexico," said Roberto Suro, director of the Pew Hispanic Center. "The devil is in the details, but certainly there is an eagerness for something."
The overwhelmingly positive response to a temporary guest worker program, however, conflicted with the long-term aspirations of a majority of the migrants surveyed.
When asked how long they intended to stay in the country, 42 percent responded that they would like to stay "as long as I can," according to the survey. Seventeen percent said they would like to stay for the rest of their lives. Only 27 percent said they planned to return to Mexico in five years or less.
Most of the latter skewed young, Suro said, with recent arrivals being more disposed to participating in a guest worker program than others. Nearly half of those surveyed were between 18 and 29 and had been in the country five years or less.
Yet even among those who said they would like to stay in the United States indefinitely or for life, more than two-thirds said they would participate in a temporary guest worker program, leading some immigration policy observers to wonder how migrants would respond realistically were such a program put in place.
"If you're offering them a work authorization, they will say yes," said Angela Kelley, deputy director for the National Immigration Forum, a pro-immigration advocacy group in Washington, D.C. However, she added, "it's one thing to answer questions in a consulate, and another to come forward for a program that at the end of the day only offers you a plane ticket home."
Geronimo Gutierrez, undersecretary for North American affairs in Mexico's Foreign Ministry, stressed that many migrants do return, noting that less than one-fifth of those surveyed said they wanted to stay in the United States for life.
But even those who intend to leave can change their minds as they put down roots, said Joe Dassaro, president of Local 1613 of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents agents in the San Diego area. Union leaders have opposed guest worker proposals over concerns that interest will drive illegal immigration.
"They have families here, their children are born here," Dassaro said. "Some might start up businesses. They may say they want to return home, but they become embedded into society."
and we care what illegal immigrants want....why?
Beyond all the rhetoric between both sides of the immigration issue, the above comment is the most credible.
The democrats are in the driver's seat on immigration reform.
And the other half were spouses of the first half, right?
how about a poll to see what mexicans think about OBEYING OUR LAWS
" The democrats are in the driver's seat on immigration reform."
Excuse me? I could have sworn we proud republicans held all the power. Why are they so willing to cede it to the dems?
Here's Michelle Malkin's take on the pew poll.
PEW'S ILLEGAL ALIEN SURVEY
By Michelle Malkin · March 03, 2005 12:00 PM
The Washington Post reports on an interesting survey of Mexican illegal immigrants:
Most Mexican illegal immigrants want to remain in the United States indefinitely, but a majority would be willing to return to Mexico within five years under a temporary guest worker program being considered by the Bush administration, according to a survey released yesterday.
The survey by the Pew Hispanic Center showed that nearly three-quarters of undocumented workers would accept a temporary worker status that required them to return to Mexico. That included 68 percent who said they wanted to live in the United States "as long as I can" or for "the rest of my life."
The survey of nearly 5,000 Mexican nationals was called the first of its kind by Roberto Suro, the center's director. It was conducted at Mexican consulates in Los Angeles; New York; Chicago; Atlanta; Dallas; Fresno, Calif.; and Raleigh, N.C., over six months as immigrants applied for a Mexican identity document....
Several observations:
- As several people quoted in the article point out, the survey findings call into question whether, under Bush's amnesty plan, so-called guest workers would really go back home after their period of "temporary" employment ends.
-The "Mexican security document" referred to above is the Matricula Consular card. You may recall that last fall congressman David Drier stated that Matricula Consular cards "are not available to illegal immigrants." As I pointed out at the time, this is hooey. The Pew Hispanic Center knows this. Presumably, that's why they surveyed Matricular Consular card applicants--because anyone who applies for the card is almost certain to be here illegally.
- The article cites Census data on the number of Mexican illegal aliens living in the U.S. Unfortunately, Census data seriously undercount the number of illegal aliens (see here).
TrackBack
www.michellemalkin.com
Man, every single thing that could be positive HAS to be rebutted and knocked down immediately, doesn't it?
One has to wonder why.
YOU speak for yourself (and your 3 friendsS), not MOST of us.
Good night.
One has to wonder why.
Because if the President succeeds in reforming immigration and border security then they won't have anything to b*tch about. Right now it is gives them something to attack the President on and an issue they can ally themselves with the far left & MSM in order to try and screw the Republican Party and President Bush.
The whole essence of the President's guest worker program is to reduce the number of people crossing the border illegally by having most of the ones simply coming here for work register and then can be monitored. If the number of people crossing the border illegally was greatly reduced, it would make controlling the border easier. Most of the remaining border crossers would be drug runners and other criminal types and could be dealt with in different way than dealing with a group of women and their small children.
So we can find them. If you try to track them down and throw them out like Ike tried, you'd find maybe one out of 4 as the other 3 go even deeper into hiding. With unique "Guest Worker -- no welfare, no voting" IDs almost all 12 million of them come out of hiding and identify themselves WILLINGLY. It's a good first step, but it's ONLY a "first step" (heh, heh)... Get it?
Tactic de jour. This, too, will pass.
Only the stupidest of people would believe these "migrants" will just pack up and leave after a few years.
The funny thing is these people actually post as if they are of the majority opinion.
*LOL*
I understand that many Hispanic-Americans (and even illegal Mexicans) are against illegal immigration. Prop 200 is a different issue than a guest worker program.
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