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Mexicans Told Immigration Reform Is Dead for Now Because of Terrorism Concerns
AP ^ | 11/20 07:00 pm EDT | George Gedda

Posted on 11/20/2001 4:17:34 PM PST by flamefront



Published: Nov 20, 2001

WASHINGTON (AP) - A comprehensive immigration agreement between Mexico and the United States will have to be deferred because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, administration officials said Tuesday.

The officials, asking not to be identified, said they notified a visiting Mexican delegation that security concerns will have to take a higher priority in cross-border relations.

They said the Mexicans understood and accepted the U.S. decision.

Mexican President Vicente Fox has been a harsh critic of the current system, in which Mexican migrants who come to the United States are unable to escape their illegal status.

President Bush seemed to agree. During Fox's Sept. 5 visit here, he and Bush committed themselves to an approach that respects "the human dignity of all migrants," regardless of their legal status.

But the U.S. officials said that too many members of Congress believe that any measure that legalizes undocumented aliens would increase U.S. vulnerability to a terrorist attack.

Since Sept. 11, the administration has been making it more difficult for foreigners to enter the country. For Mexicans, this has meant more stringent searches at border crossings.

Visa processes for young men from Arab and Muslim nations have also been delayed to give officials more time to search for evidence of terrorist activities.

Immigration reform has be a high priority for Fox since he took office a year ago. When he met with Bush, Fox challenged him to reach an agreement by the end of the year.

Bush did not embrace the timetable but agreed that a legalization process - short of blanket amnesty - was called for, given the contributions Mexican workers have made to the U.S. economy.

The U.S. and Mexican delegations met for several hours Tuesday at the State Department. The American delegation, led by Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mary Ryan, also included Justice and Labor Department officials and immigration officials.

Mexico's delegation was led by Gustavo Mohar, a migration expert at Mexico's Secretariat for External Relations; and Rodolfo Tuiran, who heads Mexico's National Council on Population.

Another meeting will probably be held sometime in January. The officials said the U.S. side wants to keep options open in case political conditions change.

On Monday, a Mexican delegation met with Tom Ridge, the director of homeland security, and other officials to discuss border issues.

AP-ES-11-20-01 1900EST



TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
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Comment #61 Removed by Moderator

To: Maalaea
Americans evicted in Baja

thanks for finding this, Maalaea, this was the incident I was refering to.

62 posted on 11/20/2001 6:27:48 PM PST by kstewskis
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To: Maalaea
i remember that. it was a land grant.

just because the land was taken from americans does not mean that they were correct. they should have investigated before they purchased.

what is this "mexico is a disease"? would dubya agree with you?

63 posted on 11/20/2001 6:29:06 PM PST by ken21
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To: doc
Well stated.
64 posted on 11/20/2001 6:29:08 PM PST by Joe Hadenuf
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Comment #65 Removed by Moderator

Comment #66 Removed by Moderator

Comment #67 Removed by Moderator

To: flamefront
Let's hope it stays that way. If the people in Mexico were happy with President Fox and their life there; I imagine they would stay in Mexico. Why doesn't President Fox ponder that for a while? And then do something for the good of his countryman; instead of himself.
68 posted on 11/20/2001 6:39:53 PM PST by freekitty
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To: Allan Wall
Actually, Mexico has a much better immigration system than the U.S. has - unless the American system, the Mexican system is designed in the interests of the nation, the U.S. system is making our country a colony of the world.

Here's a pipe dream. That the US would actually have an immigration policy for the interest of its own citizens. The U.S. system of "making our country a colony of the world" has worked in some ways, but failed miserably in others. That is one thing I like about Mexico, (as with some other countries) it's policies are in the nations best interests, not others. Unfortunately whenever the U.S. thinks of trying something like that, they get hammered. Thank you Jimmy Carter, et al....

69 posted on 11/20/2001 6:42:30 PM PST by kstewskis
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To: Maalaea
What difference does it make? I don't care whether or not he agrees with me or not. It would behoove him to start looking at what the American people want and what they don't want.

you're right, it doesn't make a darn bit of difference if he agrees or not. And I agree, he better start caring about what WE think...his voters...he quoted Bobby Kennedy today, paraphrasing what Kennedy had said in the past "It's not what I think....it's the law". I hope Dubya takes this quote to heart, and listens to us. We'll make sure of it.

70 posted on 11/20/2001 6:49:17 PM PST by kstewskis
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To: freekitty
Let's hope it stays that way. If the people in Mexico were happy with President Fox and their life there; I imagine they would stay in Mexico. Why doesn't President Fox ponder that for a while? And then do something for the good of his countryman; instead of himself.

I have a sneaking suspicion (not based on facts, just a hunch) that Fox doesn't really give a whit about the lower class in Mexico. That is why he is so adamant about trying to control OUR immigration policy, so the U.S will look after these unfortunate souls, and Mexico won't have to. He's no different than the others, he's just shirking his responsibility onto the U.S. And expecting us to cooperate and shut up about it. If it wasn't for his and Mexico's arrogance in "expecting" and demanding things from us, and then they turn around and harass the Americans down there who are fueling their economy....

71 posted on 11/20/2001 6:57:02 PM PST by kstewskis
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To: ken21
san diego's largest export partner is mexico. san diegans are not going to give up this source of income to please your xenophobia.

That's because the average san diegan is Mexican. On your last point, we will see about that. San Diego does not call the shots in federal matters. BTW, you can put that well-worn race card back in your pocket. You open border types label anyone that speaks up about even the mildest of immigration reforms as xenophobic. Hey, pal I have lived and worked in America's biggest cities and have got along just fine with everyone. I just don't like the idea of other nations taking advantage of our open society by milking away our good will and flouting our laws.

72 posted on 11/20/2001 6:59:09 PM PST by WRhine
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To: Maalaea
Mexico is no friend of Americans or the United States.

Thank you again. And yes, do you see them taking an active participation in the fight against terrorism? Your point exactly, they are NO friend.

73 posted on 11/20/2001 6:59:24 PM PST by kstewskis
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To: WRhine
that's because the average san diegan is Mexican.

do you honestly believe this?

74 posted on 11/20/2001 7:06:13 PM PST by ken21
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To: expose
Critics of current laws said universities have put money above the anti-terrorism campaign.

Got that right. I guess terrorism is not terrorism to ivory tower socialists unless it happens to strike on their campus.

75 posted on 11/20/2001 7:06:44 PM PST by WRhine
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To: ken21
do you honestly believe this?

A good percentage are. Do you honestly dispute this? To be sure with all the over the border manufacturing operations there is certainly a strong import trade.

76 posted on 11/20/2001 7:10:33 PM PST by WRhine
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Comment #77 Removed by Moderator

To: janetgreen
Add Texas and Florida, Arizona, etc etc. Its coming to a neighborhood near all of us, if something is not done soon.
78 posted on 11/20/2001 7:14:40 PM PST by Joe Hadenuf
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To: Maalaea
and, you're not a racist?
79 posted on 11/20/2001 7:17:05 PM PST by ken21
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To: WRhine
That's because the average san diegan is Mexican.

actually many of the affluent San Diegans employ these Mexicans as their landscapers, laborers, ect....there is a ton of employment opportunites for Mexicans (legal or not) and they come over in droves to make in a days work in San Diego that they would otherwise make in a month back in Mexico. I think he's right, San Diegan's don't want their cheap labor to go away. But, fortunately they don't control federal law either.

80 posted on 11/20/2001 7:17:54 PM PST by kstewskis
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