I happened on an editorial today over at the New York Times, and as much as I try to avoid reading the mindless propoganda they feel is fit to print, sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me. So I find myself reading an article titled “What Mexico Wants“, hoping the author intended to examine the new immigration bill in conjunction with the idea of a North American Union. What I read was an editorial not fit for an American newspaper.

Fortunately, most of the reform proposals represent a very good deal for Mexico, however questionable they might appear to the Latino community in the United States. The current Senate package greatly resembles what President Vicente Fox and I proposed back in 2001, in meetings with President Bush and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

This simple paragraph speaks volumes as to why the American people are almost unanimously against this bill. The idea that this immigration bill “greatly resembles” a proposal by Vincente Fox, tells the American people this bill probably serves the best interests of Mexico over our own.

First, the Senate plan would legalize almost all of the roughly six million Mexicans in the United States today without papers. This will allow them to get better wages and working conditions, to become eligible for mortgages and driver’s licenses, to travel back home and to have an immensely better everyday life.

At least the author of this article realizes the Senate bill will give amnesty to almost all illegals, President Bush doesnt seem to think so.

Second, the bill provides for a guest worker program that will include several hundred thousand Mexicans: exactly what we always wanted. The requirement that they return home for a year after working across the border for two, while cumbersome and perhaps unenforceable, would actually help Mexico. It would ensure the continued flow of money back to workers’ families here; and the returning workers would bring the skills they acquire in the United States to demonstrate to others and use to start businesses here.

The emphasis in the above paragraph is mine, I felt it was needed to stress important point the author is making, specifically the “unenforeable” part.

First, it has unduly harsh enforcement provisions at the border and the workplace, which will undoubtedly generate abuses and mistreatment. Still, if every Mexican in the United States who arrived before Jan. 1, 2007, is legalized, enforcement inside the United States, including discriminatory raids, will become redundant. And if nearly everyone who wants to go north can obtain a guest-worker visa, there will be no need to cross illegally and face rough treatment at the border.

Don’t even get me started on the “discriminatory raids”! Message to Jorge, it is not discriminatory to round up law breakers!

A second objectionable feature is the steep fines and fees in the Senate bill: up to $5,000. While this is not cheap, it’s also not much more than the “coyote” charges to smuggle a migrant across the border.

Does he honestly feel $5,000 is a steep fine? When you consider the Heritage Foundation estimated the average unskilled worker received $40,000 a year in government services, I think $5,000 is a bargain price! But here comes my favorite part… are you paying attention Presidente Bush?

The earlier figure would have allowed roughly the same number of workers who now cross illegally to obtain guest status. But if the final law has too few slots, it will not end illegal immigration, but simply perpetuate the status quo.

Keep in mind this is not an American politician who is arguing against the immigration bill, this is a Mexican citizen, and former foreign minister arguing for it. In arguing for the bill Mr. Castañeda has stated that Mexican citizens will simply ignore the part of the law which does not benefit them.

So much for comprehensive immigration reform!

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Congress, Immigration, Politics