Posted on 11/17/2001 5:40:18 PM PST by t-shirt
WIRE: 11/17/2001 8:49 pm ET
In Mexico, Daschle, Gephardt give strongest support yet to more open borders, immigration reform
The Associated Press
MEXICO CITY (AP) Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt said Saturday that they would forge ahead with immigration reform early next year, including some kind of legal residency for Mexican migrants already living in the United States. Such reforms "are very consistent with fighting against terrorism," Gephardt, D-Mo., told a news conference after meeting with President Vicente Fox during the congressmen's three-day trip to Mexico.
"If you are regularizing status, you are also understanding the people you are dealing with are not terrorists," Gephardt said, noting that those who would benefit are "people who have been in the United States for a long time, paid taxes, obeyed the laws and been very good citizens."
Daschle said discussion on the reforms could be held during the next congressional session early next year. He said legalization would not be equivalent to a broad amnesty, and would require a background check and investigation.
"The opportunity for us to investigate and expel those who ought not be there is something we want to deal with, too," he added.
The two lawmakers also said they were interested in a European Union-style program of public investments and a more open border.
"I think that it ought to be our goal that we have a free pass border at some point in the future," Daschle said.
Daschle's office later said he was not endorsing any particular program, but rather supported having the same freedoms on the Mexican border as those that exist on the Canadian border. Canadians do not need visas to enter the United States, but Mexicans do.
"I think it's unlikely that we will obtain that goal anytime in the short term," Daschle said. "(But) if the United States and Canada have a border like that, we ought to have the opportunity to have that kind of border with Mexico as well."
Fox, facing trouble at home on both economic and political fronts, desperately needs to make some headway on gaining better treatment for Mexican migrants to the United States, a central policy goal of his administration.
Daschle and Gephardt said Mexico's concerns hadn't fallen from the U.S. agenda in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"Our commitment (to bilateral issues) is every bit as strong as what it was on Sept. 10," Daschle said, noting that Congress is expected to vote in the next few days to suspend "for at least one year" an anti-drug certification program that has angered Mexicans.
The certification procedure required the State Department to judge other countries' anti-drug efforts and threatened the loss of financial aid for nations that failed the test.
Mexicans, and many other Latin Americans, considered that an affront to their sovereignty.
but if you drive, mexican insurance is necessary for your own good.
You still have not answered my question about visas. Do you have to get a visa to go see your dentist? And if so, how much hassle is it? Do you just stop at the border and say I am going to see my dentist, and they stamp something for you? I honestly want to know.
many san diegans go to tj to drink and they don't have visas, either.
if you're going to spend any length of time in mexico, then one is necessary.
I agree. I don't think they should be treated any differently. And I don't see anyone suggesting an amnesty for anyone other than Mexicans. What other way do you think Mexicans are treated differently? You already said you don't have to get a visa to travel back and forth.
no one complains about the many south africans, for example, that i've met in socal.
Are they here illegally?
How many millions of Canadians, South Africans..... are in the United States illegally and bleeding the taxpayers dry?
Hey Dashole,we've already got that!
i don't know one illegal mexican who does not work and pay taxes.
If Canadians or Dalmations were streaming across our boarders consuming our public institutions and our tax dollars without a significan, counterbalancing economic contribution they would also be the subject of public scrutiny.
You are trying to make it a race issue. To me it is a legal matter. Most of the people in the US were immigrants at some point, and most of them came here legally. They waited their turn, immigrated legally, learned the language, became citizens. That has not been the pattern of most Mexicans....most just drifted north of the border and stayed...and now they want amnesty for the laws they broke. If they are being treated differently it is because they behaved differently.
You made the point for me...they are here illegally....and you don't seem to think that is a problem. I do.
I know lots of illegals who work for cash and do not pay taxes....and if you were being candid, you do too. As for it being racism, you are the one raising the race issue. Several posters have asked you legitimate questions and you cannot see past your heritage to answer them...so I will ask you again. Why do you think the Mexicans should be treated differently? Why do you think they should be allowed to freely cross the border?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.