More than 350,000 Mexicans have returned home since U.S. attacks

The News (Mexico City) ^ | November 7, 2001

[sarcasm]

Illegal immigrants enter California by running into traffic on I-5 to avoid the Border Patrol. Usually Mexicans are busy trying to get into the U.S., but since the Sept. 11, thousands want to come home. File Photo, TheNewsMexico.com

More than 350,000 Mexicans have returned home since U.S. attacks
AFP - 11/7/2001

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco - More than 350,000 Mexicans have returned home in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S. but that figure doesn't represent an alarming trend, said the director of the National Migration Institute.

The significant return of Mexicans who reside in the United States has to do with the fact that "contracts, mostly temporary ones, have expired and because the economic situation over there is not so great," said Felipe de Jesus Preciado.

Because of the current negative economic conditions that have prevailed since the attacks, he said, "350,000 men and women have returned to Mexico," adding in the coming months at least 150,000 more are expected to come home. This would bring the number of Mexicans "who prefer to live in their own country again" to a record 500,000 the official said.

Despite the nine percent increase in the return flow of immigrants over the same period last year, the trend isn't worrisome, Preciado assured.

More than 40 percent of returning immigrants enter through the international airport in Guadalajara prompting the government to open a migrant program office to assist and protect the rights of returning Mexicans.

The program was created in 1989 to help returning citizens, principally from the U.S., in processing legal documents and protect them from bureaucratic corruption.

There are currently 20 million people of Mexican origin living in the United States. Approximately 4 million were admitted legally in the 1990s, a figure 63 higher than the number admitted in the first 80 years of the 20th century.

According to recent government figures, Mexicans in the U.S. sent back a record 8 billion dollars between January and October. This represents more than 1 percent of the national GDP and is one of Mexico's largest sources of foreign income.

Translated by Armando Saliba

[mbb bill]

Muslims don't like christians!!! They better stay home. The black panthers seem to think the same.

[grania]

I'd go further--any illegal alien who shows up at a recruiting office and signs up for military service automatically has his status legalized, and given citizenship at the end of his term of service. Anyone who will do that DESERVES to become a citizen.

I'll respectfully disagree. A loophole is a loophole. It's our war on the homefront; it's a war to regain our national boundaries and identity. Let the Mexicans go home, let their country establish a decent army (that would be refreshing...for them to do something besides telling their citizens to "migrate" north and send home money), and let Mexican troops be commited to Afghanastan. Then the Mexicans can go home and be proud citizens of....MEXICO.

I really don't want people who broke our laws serving the US in any way. They should be kicked out, no exceptions.

[doug from upland]

Let them keep going. How do you say "Let's roll" en espanol?

[grania]

Why the Sam Hill would it be alarming?

This is a translation from a Mexico City newspaper. From their viewpoint it is apparantly alarming that Mexico might actually have to stop leaching off the US.

[doug from upland]

The picture up above is amazing. For those who don't know, there are signs on that freeway, much like signs of a deer crossing the road, that show a family crossing the road and warning us to be careful.

[skeeter]

Yeah baby.

The best news of the week.

[Red Jones]

As soon as the 9/11 events occurred the government was somehow able to really clamp down at the border. Both drugs and people were difficult to get over the border for a couple of weeks.

[Old Fud]

This is a translation from a Mexico City newspaper. From their viewpoint it is apparantly alarming that Mexico might actually have to stop leaching off the US.

Yeah, the source didn't escape my attention. I thought it was kinda funny that this exodus to Mexico by Mexicans was considered, uh, alarming, by Mexicans.

[Don Myers]

"How many millions more to go?"

I don't know, but one more attack, and that should do it for whomever is left.

[Don Myers]

"Wonder if any benefits they were collecting will follow them to Mexico?"

I never thought about it, but that might work. If we just sent them their welfare checks to their Mexican address, they might decide to stay in their own country. After all, they would live better there. The American dollar is still worth something in Mexico.

"Would anyone be surprised if we were that stupid?"

At first look, it seems stupid, but lets give it some thought.

[constable tom]

I really don't want people who broke our laws serving the US in any way. They should be kicked out, no exceptions.

Exactly. Having served proudly in the all-volunteer USAF, I deeply resent the numerous calls (on various threads) I've seen for compulsory service of any kind. We don't want it, we don't need it, and we sure don't need to do it with illegal aliens. High tech military meets 3rd grade education and extremely poor English skills? No thanks.

[NoCurrentFreeperByThatName]

ping

[ChaseR]

"Because of the current negative economic conditions that have prevailed since the attacks, he said, "350,000 men and women have returned to Mexico,"

In this group of 350,000, I wonder how many were illegal? I wonder how many, if any - terrorist - have already come through the wide open and unprotected Mexican and Canadian borders??? Likewise, presently, how easy is it for terrorist to come through the lengthy Canadian (and Mexican) border?? (both are duh type questions)

[kaboom]

adios

[Eternal_Bear]

and probably 500,000 more have entered our country since the attacks. Have you looked at the UN population figures? Expect tens of millions of more refugees flooding the First World.

[Freemeorkillme]

According to recent government figures, Mexicans in the U.S. sent back a record 8 billion dollars between January and October. This represents more than 1 percent of the national GDP and is one of Mexico's largest sources of foreign income.

Hmmm, so exactly how much of this 8 billion is being funneled out of the US into a foreign country illegally? Which states are suffering the largest losses of revenue? Should this be viewed as a threat to these injured states'fiscal security and, consequently, our national security?

The last question is pretty much a no-brainer, leaving the first two questions to be seriously determined.

On a lighter note, (fastforward to next election in CA), if this current trend is true and continues, I forsee a sweeping win for Republicans in this state.

[american spirit]

The ability of these illegals to continue to drain us of welfare $ will ruin this country and continue to be a magnet for more problems for years to come. Surely, there has to be a way to find out which gov't programs are making it so attractive for them to be here. We're committing national suicide as long as we let this nonsense continue.

[monkeywrench]

"Maybe they'll go and build up Mexico,..." "...prompting the government to open a migrant program office to assist and protect... The program was created...and protect them from bureaucratic corruption." Instead of dealing with the corruption of govt. officials, they create more positions which will require more govt. officials to occupy!