Some in Mexico See Border Wall as Opportunity

New York Times ^ | 5/25/06 | GINGER THOMPSON

[mafree]

SEATTLE, May 24 — To build, or not to build, a border of walls? The debate in the United States has started some Mexicans thinking it is not such a bad idea.

Nationalist outrage and accusations of hypocrisy over the prospect have filled airwaves and front pages in Mexico, as expected, fueled by presidential campaigns in which appeals to national pride are in no short supply. But, surprisingly, another view is gaining traction: that good fences can make good neighbors.

The clamorous debate over a border wall has confronted President Vicente Fox of Mexico at every stop during a visit to the United States that began Tuesday. While he did not publicly endorse the idea, he made clear that his government was prepared to live with increased border security as long as it comes with measures that opened legal channels for the migration of Mexican workers.

Outside his government, several immigration experts have even begun floating the idea that real walls, not the porous ones that stand today, could be more an opportunity than an attack.

A wall could dissuade illegal immigrants from their perilous journeys across the Sonora Desert and force societies on both sides to confront their dependence on an industry characterized by exploitation, they say.

The old blame game — in which Mexico attributed illegal migration to the voracious American demand for labor and accused lawmakers of xenophobia — has given way to a far more soul-searching discussion, at least in quarters where policies are made and influenced, about how little Mexico has done to try to keep its people home.

"For too long, Mexico has boasted about immigrants leaving, calling them national heroes, instead of describing them as actors in a national tragedy," said Jorge Santibáñez, president of the College of the Northern Border.

[mafree]

Won't work Vinny (unless the Senate fails to grow a pair soon)

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

Of course a wall's a good idea. But we certainly don't need Mr. Peso's input. He only sees that he's outnumbered with the open borders' idea, so he switched trains. He just needs to get his feet off our soil...

[livius]

For too long, Mexico has boasted about immigrants leaving, calling them national heroes, instead of describing them as actors in a national tragedy,"

Absolutely the truth. Why Mexico brags about being a country so lousy that its most enterprising citizens have to flee in order to survive is beyond me.

[Prince Caspian]

...Mexico attributed illegal migration to the voracious American demand for labor...

Mexico seems to think a high demand for labor is a bad thing. The way they think might possibly be a part of their problem.

[theworkersarefew]

We need the wall,but we also need more Mike Pence's bill
will be a decent start

Pence's bill will do the following
1 Pass HR 4437
2 The border will be secured
3 Interior laws will be enforced
4 NO path to citizenship will be granted
5 Anchor baby citizenship will end
6 Removes all 10 to 12 million illegal aliens for United States
7 There will no longer be “undocumented workers”
8 Private Sector
9 Secures the border first.
10 We will control our border

http://mikepence.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=44113

[Gefreiter]

"...[Fox] made clear that his government was prepared to live with increased border security..."

Well, gosh that's awfully big of him.

[Jameison]

"Pence's bill will do the following
1 Pass HR 4437
2 The border will be secured
3 Interior laws will be enforced
4 NO path to citizenship will be granted
5 Anchor baby citizenship will end
6 Removes all 10 to 12 million illegal aliens for United States
7 There will no longer be “undocumented workers”
8 Private Sector
9 Secures the border first.
10 We will control our border "

Don't see nuthin' to complain about here.
Sounds pretty good to me.

[Jameison]

"and he conceded that it was the right of the United States to take steps to fortify its borders"

Why thanks Vicente.
You are indeed most kind.

[sinkspur]

Of course a wall's a good idea. But we certainly don't need Mr. Peso's input. He only sees that he's outnumbered with the open borders' idea, so he switched trains. He just needs to get his feet off our soil...

Says Mrs. White Bread.

Hey, this xenophobic game is pretty cool!!

[Beckwith]

I still say it's ethnic cleansing.

The Mexicans who have descended from the European Spanish truly, in their hearts believe they are superior to the native Amerindian Mexicans and they are simply driving them out of Mexico.

It's pure racism in a country with the 10th ranking GDP.

[MD_Willington_1976]

"Some in Mexico See Border Wall as Opportunity"

I agree, for day laborers and concrete makers it would be a gold mine.

[demlosers]

Some in Mexico See Border Wall as Opportunity

Mexican coyote: our escort price goes from $2,000 to $15,000 per person :).

[sam_paine]

William Travis on the walls of the Alamo overlooking 3000 of Santa Anna's finest with Davy Crockett.....

Crockett: "Uh, Colonel? Did you order concrete?"

[Sam Ketcham]

"A wall could dissuade illegal immigrants from their perilous journeys across the Sonora Desert and force societies on both sides to confront their dependence on an industry characterized by exploitation, they say."

In the true spirit of neighborly nations and in keeping with the President's contention that there are jobs Americans wont do (particularly the Senate) let the MEXICANS build the wall and we pay them. That way the wall is on their side of the border and we pick up 6" X 2000 mi. of territory. To avoid DemonRAT contentions of Racism, we get the Mexicans to build a Wall for the Canadians.

[Sam Ketcham]

Thank you for the info on HR 4437
. Will write to my Congressbitc...oops, Representative and ask her to support the bill. THANKS!

[tumblindice]

"xenophobic game"
Why, I don't know what you mean.

[Rick_Michael]

Looks can be deceiving ...although the way things are going, it might end-up going that way. It's the best approach in my opinion,..

It's not half as bad as the Senate legislation, but I wonder if a single dem will support this. Their very lively-hood depends on cheap votes.

[mafree]

Your list works for me but I'll add cutting off welfare-type benefits too.

[evets]

Building the wall that Americans refuse to build