Oil for Illegals? Mexico, and the Democrats, have a fit over House vote

National Review ^ | May 14, 2003 | Mark Krikorian

[madfly]

May 14, 2003, 9:30 a.m.
Oil for Illegals?
Mexico, and the Democrats, have a fit over House vote.

By Mark Krikorian

Last Thursday, the House International Relations Committee narrowly passed a resolution introduced by Rep. Cass Ballenger of North Carolina (R.) requiring that any amnesty deal for the five million Mexican illegal aliens in the United States be linked to an opening of Mexico's state-controlled oil industry to investment by U.S. companies.

Then the fun started.The Mexican press exploded in outrage. "Blackmail!" cried the archbishop of Mexico City. "Stupidity!" said a representative of the oil workers' union. A plot to "annex Latin America," intoned Nobel peace-prize winner Adolfo Pérez Esquivel. An example of U.S. lawmakers' "ignorance," "arrogance," and "imperial vision," according to a Mexican senator. The head of the leftist PRD called on President Vicente Fox to "put on his pants" — act like a man — and oppose the proposal. Fox finally joined the tsunami of criticism on Sunday and categorically rejected any privatization of Pemex, Mexico's state oil monopoly.

None of this should come as a surprise. Mexico's seizure of foreign oil companies' assets in 1938 is central to modern Mexican nationalism; state control of the oil industry is actually written into the constitution. What's more, there are midterm elections for the lower house of Mexico's Congress coming up in July. Embracing privatization of Pemex would not be a vote getter, to say the least. And according to William and Mary political scientist George Grayson, author of Oil and Mexican Foreign Policy, "unless the PAN makes notable strides in these contests, the beleaguered Fox will find himself a lame duck with three years-plus remaining in his term."

But however outraged the Mexicans are, and however different these two issues are, it only seems fair to link them. After all, Mexico is asking us to start down the path of eliminating our southern border and embracing a European Union-style shared sovereignty — the least we can expect is for them also to eliminate barriers that are important to their nation.

Nor has this idea come out of the blue. In the July 30, 2001, Weekly Standard, economist Irwin Stelzer suggested just such an approach. Stelzer wrote that "monopoly oil prices" could offset a good part of the economic growth assumed in the president's tax cut and that "the finger of blame points squarely at Mexico." He wrote that we should insist that Mexico cooperate with the United States and other pro-free market countries and stop supporting the OPEC oil cartel and its leaders such as the Marxist Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Stelzer said that before Bush strikes any deal on amnesty, "he should insist on the free movement of ...oil from Mexico" and the opening of Mexico's oil resources to American investment.

While Mexican opposition may be no surprise, the Democrats' furor over the oil-for-illegals approach is, given the importance of Mexico's oil to the United States and the huge costs that an illegal-alien amnesty would impose on us. After all, they have no chance whatever of getting an amnesty through Congress without some kind of sweetener, and this would seem an obvious candidate.

But it is not to be. Rep. Robert Menendez was so angry that he held a press conference last Friday denouncing the resolution. He was joined by Rep. Ciro Rodriguez and Silvestre Reyes; the latter, a past head of the Hispanic Caucus, said the amendment was an "insult" to Mexico and indicative of an "insane and outofcontrol attitude on the part of a country [the United States] that believes that as a matter of public foreign policy bullying is acceptable." It was Menendez who prompted the whole dust-up in the first place; Ballenger's amendment, to the State Department appropriations bill, was offered as a substitute to a proposal by Menendez calling for the conclusion of a "migration" accord which, among other things, "respect[ed] the human dignity of all migrants, regardless of their status" — i.e., an amnesty for illegal aliens.

The partisan nature of the vote suggests the depth of opposition in the president's own party for his preferred immigration policies. The only Republican to vote against Ballenger's oil-for-illegals linkage was Pete King (who has a career grade of F on the reformist Americans for Better Immigration website). Even such flamboyant Republican supporters of high immigration as Ileana Ros Lehtinen (career grade of F), Chris Smith (D-), and Steve Chabot (D+) voted for the linkage.

However bad the immigration positions of these Republicans, they at least understand that a massive illegal-alien amnesty must be met with some gesture from Mexico. But the Democratic-party/Mexican-government position on amnesty for illegals appears to be all quid from the United States and no quo from Mexico.

Stay tuned.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Not if we go to a mandatory 70 hour work week. Now, get back to work, slacker...

You know that's what it's coming down to, we're working our lives away to support lawbreakers who benefit a few rich corporations. I'm suprised people aren't angrier than they are.

[Pubbie]

I want substanially Lower immigration from Latin American countries, and raise the number of Eastern Europeans substantially.

The media will call the GOP racists, but the media calls Republicans racist no matter WHAT you do, and furthermore the people who will most offended by this are the people LEAST likely to vote Republican.

[monkeywrench]

I think the anger will come. It's almost too late...

[madfly]

Isn't it INSANE that Representative Silvestre Reyes, who is on all these committees, can speak against the US Gov't in the Mexican press, calling us a Nation who bullies?

http://clerk.house.gov/members/inter_mem_list.php?statdis=TX16

Silvestre Reyes  
Texas-16th, Democrat
1527 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4316
Phone: (202) 225-4831

• Committee on Armed Services
• Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs

• Benefits (Veteran's Affairs)
• Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence (HIG)
• Readiness (Armed Services)
• Strategic Forces (Armed Services)
• Terrorism and Homeland Security (HIG)

 

[quebecois]

The problem that the rest of the world is having with the US lately is that the US is simply not taking the usual BS from abroad like we used to. Mexico, Europe, etc are used to making demands and badmouthing us at will and not suffering any consequences. Guess what, amigo? There is a new sheriff in town.

Frankly, I think that this proposal lets Mexico off lightly. I would demand:

1) An abolition of restrictions on american citizens from owning property in Mexico (currently, no american can own property there....they don't want "foreigners" to buy up Mexico).

2) Bilingual ballots in mexican elections (if its good for the goose....)

3) Allow americans to attend mexican universities at the same tuition as mexicans (like mexicans currently get in state tuition at california schools...even illegals).

4) Affirmative action...which will make sure that white and black americans have an equal chance at jobs in mexico as do native mexicans.

This is just for starters...I know that I'll think of a few more as time goes on.

The reason that they're pissed is that they are used to making demands, crying "racism" and having a bunch of guilty white liberal gringos giving them whatever they want.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

I want substanially Lower immigration from Latin American countries, and raise the number of Eastern Europeans substantially.

That isn't going to happen, the most to expect is a decrease in all immigration, maybe take another look at the Jordan Commission's recommendations, which lowered annual levels to 500,000 and cut the family chain.

Besides, even if Congress wanted all immigration to come from Eastern Europe, the pool is not endless. And when their economies advance to the Western level, even fewer will want to come to the US.

[FITZ]

Then the fun started.The Mexican press exploded in outrage.

I'm thinking this might have been a trial balloon or something from the Bush administration. President Fox and the Mexican politicians are very excited about illegal immigration to the US when they think it has to cost only the US taxpayer. They can demand they have access to every programs, school, hospital, welfare program (the Whole Enchilada) when it's Americans who have to pay. They never intended for the oil riches of Mexico to help out these poor citizens of theirs in any way ----watching them yelp now about the thought of losing one oil dollar to benefit the illegals here is very funny actually. The Mexican elite does not intend to share the oil money ---not with Americans, not with Mexicans.

[Nea Wood]

Personally, I'd like to see a break in ALL immigration for a while

I'm with you. We need a break. We need time to absorb and assimilate the hoardes and hoardes we have taken in.

[mo]

Mexican immigration boils down to one issue only-we need workers to support the baby-boomers medicare/ss bills-and only Mexico has the requisite number of workers-70 million under age thirty in fact. The only way to thwart the inevitable here is to shut off the medicare/ss spigot...Dubya ain't gonna do THAT!!!

[Pubbie]

"That isn't going to happen, the most to expect is a decrease in all immigration, maybe take another look at the Jordan Commission's recommendations, which lowered annual levels to 500,000 and cut the family chain."

Sure it can happen, all you have to do is tell the GOP that it is demographically DOOMED unless it let's in Eastern Europeans, and lower Hispanic immigration.

NEVER underestimate a politicians ability to look out for his self interest.

And there are over 300 million eastern europeans, so you have LOTS of people to choose from...

[Pubbie]

Bzzzzzzzzt.

Mexican immigration will not Help Social Security at all because Mexicans are too poor to pay much in taxes since they're badly educated and chronically poor.

High Skill immigration coming from eastern europe and Asia will save social security because, those immigrants are educated enough to get good jobs and can therefore be taxed.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

And there are over 300 million eastern europeans, so you have LOTS of people to choose from...

How many do you suppose want to come here? The reason so few from Western Europe wish to immigrate to the US is because their economies are on par as ours. Soon, East Europe and Russia will be too now that they got rid of communism.

Doesn't matter anyway, it's time for a pause in all immigration like we had in 1924. We're overloaded as it is.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Sure it can happen, all you have to do is tell the GOP that it is demographically DOOMED unless it let's in Eastern Europeans, and lower Hispanic immigration.

What? You mean nobody's ever told the GOP this?

NEVER underestimate a politicians ability to look out for his self interest.

True in the short term, but not the long term. Clinton's military and security policies, continued, would arguably lead to their grandchildren paraded in chains in Peking. But, that's much later. Politicians care about NOW and the near future--i.e., the next election.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

We need time to absorb and assimilate the hoardes and hoardes we have taken in.

The polls are all showing the same thing, we need a break. Only a few in Washington are listening.

[Pubbie]

"What? You mean nobody's ever told the GOP this?"

When I bring this idea up to Republican friends of mine they say something like "Wow! I never even considered something that simple as an option!"

I've never seen ANY website or even a SINGLE article discuss this as a possibility...

So as far as I can tell, No one except me and some fellow Russian immigrants I know had this idea.

[kstewskis]

They have. Hundreds of thousands have immigrated here from Eastern Europe and Russia in the last decade. The problem is illegal immigration, if they would cut it off it would slow the Aztlan train down considerably.

I'm all for that. However, can anyone elaborate on the current problem of "legal immigration's" effect on the City of Glendale, CA?

That is one town that has deteriorated considerably over the last 20 or so years, because of the influx of the Armenian population. This is one group who dare not assimilate, with a sizable amount of them collecting welfare and medicaid (courtesy of Uncle Sam)....all while many of them are driving Mercedes and other expensive cars. The Armenian kids are forming gangs, and fight with the surrounding Latino and Oriental gangs. The crime rate has jumped considerably in the last 20 years, it is no longer safe to walk around the local mall there.

Many of the Armenian doctors practicing there are flat out ripping off Medicare, as some are caught in fraudulent claims. Unfortunately, the problem these people bring are spreading around the surrounding areas.

Anyone in the Glendale/Burbank area comment?

[Pubbie]

"However, can anyone elaborate on the current problem of "legal immigration's" effect on the City of Glendale, CA?"

It is wrecking the state because millions of illegals, who don't make enough money to be taxed, are flooding into the State, while the people rich enough to be taxed are running for their lives to Utah and Colorado.

And since these illegal mexicans have ZERO job skills, they have boatloads of kids, who also have no job skills, and therefore grow up to be gang members.

Watch for an EXPLOSION in the Latino Crime rate in California when those Mexican baby boomers grow up a la the Black gang crime wave of the 70's 80's and mid 90's...

[Reaganwuzthebest]

This is one group who dare not assimilate, with a sizable amount of them collecting welfare and medicaid (courtesy of Uncle Sam)....all while many of them are driving Mercedes and other expensive cars.

Just another example of an immigration policy so far out in left field...

[Tribune7]

ping

[kstewskis]

Watch for an EXPLOSION in the Latino Crime rate in California when those Mexican baby boomers grow up a la the Black gang crime wave of the 70's 80's and mid 90's...

THAT has already happened, and it started in the 80's. Kalifornia is trashed, thanks to the immigration problem, both legal and illegal.

My issue is with the Eastern European immigration. If they come from a non communist background, fine. They are generally hard workers. I use Glendale, CA as an Armenian experiment gone horribly wrong. If they are from the communist bloc countries, they will (and have) bleed our system dry as well. Including Medicare fraud.