"Mexican official blasts U.S. anti-immigration effort

Ft. Worth Star Telegram | 5-30-2003 | E. Eduardo Castillo

[MissAmericanPie]

Mexico City - International immigration is a part of global development and should not be sacrificed to excessive security measures, Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez said Thursday.

"We should rid ourselves of the false argument that the fish of terrorism moves comfortably in the waves of migration," Derbez told an 11-nation Regional Migraton Conference in the Mexican city of Cancun.

Derbez noted that Mexico has tightened it's own immigration measures to assist the United States since 9-11.

But the implicitly criticized those who have used those terrorist attacks to justify anti-immigration measures in the United States.

He called for "joint effort to effriciently combat" terrorisim "without converting our countries into a system of isolated tanks."

"Migration cannot be separated from development," Derbez said, calling it a global "factor of economic dynamism."

He also said it was "associated with the preservation of human rights" around the world.

The heavy immigration of Mexican and Central American citizens to the United States has become a major source of labor for significant U.S. industries and an important source of revenue for several countries.

Mexican officials have set a priority on reaching an agreement with the Untied States that would legalize much of that process - a negotiation that has been slowed by the U.S. reaction to to terrorist attacks.

Separately, Mexican President Vicente Fox is treating his invitation to a two-day Group of Eight summit starting Sunday in Evian, France, as a major prominent world role for Mexico.

That larger role might help counterbalance Mexico's increasing economic ties - some say dependence - on the neighboring United States, which receives 75 percent of Mexico's exports. But the two positions sometimes clash.

The Fox administration's successful campaign for a temporary seat on the U.N. Securityu Council was widely criticized at home because it led to friction with the Untied States over pacifist Mexico's reluctance to support an invasion of Iraq.

"It was highly costly to national interests," said Humberto Garza, an expert on Mexican foreign relations at the elite College of Mexico.

[MissAmericanPie]

I suppose those five terrorists didn't make their way across our southern border to within a short distance from the Crawford ranch.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

"Migration cannot be separated from development," Derbez said, calling it a global "factor of economic dynamism."

That's not what I call it. More like a corrupt regime sucking the lifeblood out of its productive, wealthy neighbor.

[Beck_isright]

Hopefully, someday, Americans will wake up to the threat of the Mexicans. But I doubt it.

[debaryfl]

I long for the day when this nation deals with illegal immigrants the way that mexico does.

[Kitten1]

The U.S. is attempting to address the long avoided issue of ILLEGAL immigration. This country isn't anti-immigration (activist spin). The U.S. only asks that persons come to our country the legal way, even if it means you have to WAIT awhile.

For some reason, some in Mexico (and countless other countries) seems to think the rules don't apply to them.

This is further proof that the Mexican government wholly supports these illegals as a subsidiary of their corrupt rule.

MUCK FEXICO!

[11B3]

You took the words right out of my mouth there - almost to the letter.

[MissAmericanPie]

Well said

[FITZ]

The Mexican elite is terrified we might slow down them getting rid of their fellow Mexicans who would then demand some changes ----they want to continue raiding Mexico of it's wealth for as long as possible ---what becomes of their own elite children if changes get made?

[MissAmericanPie]

Would you do me a favor and ping a few friends as I lack a ping list?

[Aria]

My explanation of the Mexican position is that the people in charge of Mexico have a choice of ways to give basic benefits to its poorer citizens: raise taxes and provide basic subsistance or facilitate their "migration" to the U.S. so the American taxpayer can foot the bill instead.

Last time I was in Acapulco a local told me that Mexico is a very rich country but very corrupt. He said Cancun was developed by the Mexican government but is owned by a former Mexican president and his friends. He also said they pay more for Mexican gas in Mexico than the companies sell it for to other countries. So it sounds to me as though the people pulling the strings in Mexico don't want to give up a good thing. If it weren't for the escape valve we have become Mexico might end up with a revolution.

[joesnuffy]

We should rid ourselves of the false argument that the fish of terrorism moves comfortably in the waves of migration,"

Narco terrorism...is also terrorism.....you putz

[Aria]

Exactly!

I have a construction business in Portland and Seattle. We have been union for many years but are about to change this since we are no longer competitive. Competitors use Mexican labor because they are cheap and work hard. Our $30+/hour workers, who have done a good job for us for years, won't be able to replace what they had with us because the union halls are full, in fact one union said they don't have any money. I'm not happy about this but we will go out of business if we don't change.

[philetus]

International immigration is a part of global development and should not be sacrificed to excessive security measures, Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez said Thursday.

I'll bet he wasn't supposed to let this cat out of the bag.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

USo it sounds to me as though the people pulling the strings in Mexico don't want to give up a good thing.

Yep, the European class running Mexico is corrupt and greedy, and racist as well. Even the Pope publicly stated their ethnic cleansing of the Mestizo Indians by encouraging them to leave was unacceptable.

It's time to put our foot down and make them fix their own problems, the sooner the better.

[MissAmericanPie]

Amen, I'm so glad the more astute members of FR recognize real terrorism and it's threat when they see it.

[BenLurkin]

"Mexican official blasts U.S. anti-immigration effort"

Any chance we can "blast" the Mexican government?

[junta]

bttt

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

We are at war with Mexico, whether our government knows it or not.
When does the bombing begin?

[wildbill]

Just let a 'gringo' try to bring some development and economic dynamism to Mexico by trying to immigrate there and see what happens.

And God help the 'gringo' that should try and immigrate and work in Mexico illegally.

[hauerf]

"We should rid ourselves of the false argument that the fish of terrorism moves comfortably in the waves of migration,"

No, what we MUST rid ourselves of is mushheaded thinking like that of Luis Ernesto Derbez.