Remittances are Mexico's biggest source of income, says Fox

ASSOCIATED PRESS ^ | Luis Alonso Lugo

[AZ GRAMMY]

Remittances are Mexico's biggest source of income, says Fox

By Luis Alonso Lugo ASSOCIATED PRESS

8:51 p.m. September 24, 2003

NEW YORK ? Money sent from Mexican workers in the United States to their families back home has reached a record $12 billion in 2003, Mexican President Vicente Fox said Wednesday.

Remittances "are our biggest source of foreign income, bigger than oil, tourism or foreign investment," Fox told reporters after a meeting with Mexican-American businessmen.

"The 20 million Mexicans in the United States generate a gross product that is slightly higher than the $600 billion generated by Mexicans in Mexico," Fox said, adding that his country has the ninth-largest economy in the world.

"If we could add up the two products, Mexico would be the third or fourth economy in the world," he said.

Fox said the money transfers grew after Mexican consulates started giving identity cards to their citizens in the United States.

"The cards are working. All doubts have been cleared up," Fox said. "Almost 2.5 million people have them, and we want all Mexicans to have them."

The cards, known as "matricula consular," allow holders to get driver's licenses in some states, open bank accounts and send money home. Police have found them useful when arresting some illegal immigrants.

But critics have raised concerns over whether the cards provide legitimacy to illegal immigrants.

Money transfers from Mexican immigrants working in the United States to relatives back home reached a previous high of $10 billion in 2002, according to the Pew Hispanic Center, a research organization in Washington.

Fox said he would discuss the question of migration with President Bush at next month's meeting of 21 world leaders at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Thailand.

The Mexican leader asked his audience to contribute to the productivity of Mexico's economy.

[DefCon]

Actual Title reads:
"Remittances are Mexico's biggest source of income, says Fox"

[South40]

This is why Mexico won't stop the illegals.

[Support Free Republic]

"Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our
wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions,
they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."
- John Adams -

Make your statement.

[FITZ]

"Almost 2.5 million people have them, and we want all Mexicans to have them."

All?????? All Mexicans will have complete freedom to come work in the USA?

[dr_who_2]

That certainly sucks, Vincente, but your job is to fulfill your promise and improve the situation so that more people can make an honest living down there.

[Clemenza]

Remittances are also the largest source of income for Jamaica, Albania and El Salvador and until the 1970s, were Greece's largest source of income. Heck, even my great-grandfathers sent money abroad to family.

The concern about remittances is such a tempest in a teapot. I live surrounded by illegals, yet I see them shopping all the time and spending money at the McDonald's, gas stations, etc.

[Clemenza]

Remittances are also the largest source of income for Jamaica, Albania and El Salvador and until the 1970s, were Greece's largest source of income. Heck, even my great-grandfathers sent money abroad to family.

The concern about remittances is such a tempest in a teapot. I live surrounded by illegals, yet I see them shopping all the time and spending money at the McDonald's, gas stations, etc.

[txdoda]

Fox said, adding that his country has the ninth-largest economy in the world.>>>>>>>>


You'd think the "ninth-largest economy" would be able to care for it's own citizens, rather than shipping them north for the US TAXPAYERS to support.


Anyone in Washinton DC listening ??, or reading ?? I believe most CITIZENS are sick & tired of our gov't forcing the TAXPAYERS to 'foot the bills' on these criminal invaders & their many children.

[Salvation]

**$12 billion in 2003**

This could be funneled into the U. S. economy!!

[Kay Soze]

Remittances are a large source of income for demon-crats too.

[Rodney King]

Good plan. The mind-field is an important addition to the fence, if nothing else than to piss-off Princess Di's spirit and to anger those girly men who cried in front of the British Embassy the day she died.

[ImpotentRage]

My proposal is similar to yours. I would dig a moat, build a wire fence down the center of it, fill the moat with water and electrify the fence. I am so sick of the invasion of this country - and NEITHER party gives a damn.

[txdoda]

"Almost 2.5 million people have them, and we want all Mexicans to have them." >>>>>


Funny Fox & Co. keep PUSHING these 'matricula cards' in the USA, yet they are NOT widely accepted as LEGAL ID in MEXICO.


All?????? All Mexicans will have complete freedom to come work in the USA?>>>>>


Looks like it, if Fox/Mexico has their way......and so far NONE of OUR LEADERS are saying/doing anything to STOP the invasion.

[Blue Screen of Death]

$10 billion in 2002, according to the Pew Hispanic Center...

A questionable figure from a questionable group.

[texastoo]

I just read an article in the McAllen news about Fox having
a conference with some US trade reps about the maquiladora problems. It stated that since July, 250,000 Mexicans have lost their jobs.

It looks like Mexico is now getting ready to compete with China as the buyers of products are demanding a China pricing.

http://www.themonitor.com

Scroll down and you will find the story.

If they cut the Mexican wages, this means more illegals coming across the border. It also means more money going out of the US to Mexico via remittances.

[boomop1]

Mexico the most corrupt country in the world.

[NewRomeTacitus]

While Mexico stagnates with no incentive to improve, technology and innovation lag in the US with the glut of unskilled labor.
Seal the border for Mexico’s own good. Call it “Tough Love” or “Those GD Gringos Got Serious”, just do it already. We have troops in many places where they’re not needed. If any one would ask I feel certain that most law enforcement in the border regions would be thrilled to have National Guard and Reserve units backing them up on rotating basis. Defending the country is their purpose.
Every time some one sneaks over the border some kid goes without. Every time some one bails off a ship and slips into the community a citizen’s loved one will be denied health care when it’s needed. Every time employers tell themselves they had to hire that illegal to “compete” some unfortunate American has to settle for less than their rightful heritage.
This IS the issue for the next presidential election. If President Bush doesn’t rectify this transgression soon one of the Democrats will jump on this issue and ride it to victory.

[staytrue]

This was already posted and why are you posting this article dated sept. 24