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toneart
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A Way Out of the Immigration Mess
This is a different and interesting perspective on U.S. Immigration:
A Way Out of the Immigration Mess
> Mike Krauss - Wall Street Journeal
>
>
>
>
> From 1999 through 2005 I was a senior executive of a North
American
> railroad based in Mexico City, responsible chiefly for intermodal
> traffic between locations in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
> For some years prior to that, and until only recently, I lived in
a
> still predominantly rural area outside Mexico City, traveled
widely
> in the country and worked often on the border. I have had both
> professional and personal contact with illegal immigration into
the
> U.S.
>
> Railroads that come out of Mexico must deal routinely with
> the "sleepers," as those who try to hitch a ride on the northbound
> trains are called. And in the small town outside of Mexico City
> where I lived, I knew any number of people who had tried and
failed
> or tried and succeeded to make the more common journey on foot
> across the border which, I observed first-hand, is porous.
>
> In order to resolve the crisis of illegal immigration into the
U.S.,
> it is important to understand who these people are and what they
> want. Overwhelmingly, they are young and healthy. It is not a
> journey for the old or frail. They are not all poor or uneducated.
> Many educated young Mexicans have no work. For every entry-level
and
> mid-level managerial position my company advertised there were
> hundreds of qualified applicants. What drives them to make an
always
> arduous, often perilous and sometimes fatal journey is the search
> for opportunity and more specifically, work.
>
> The other thing that must be understood is that there is presently
> no effective process in place to lawfully manage the numbers of
> Mexicans and, to a lesser extent, other Hispanics seeking to live
or
> work in the U.S. Through inaction and inattention Congress has
> manufactured a crisis.
>
> The legal process is to stand for hours, often more than once, in
a
> line outside the U.S. embassy in Mexico City. It's the kind of
line
> I recall from my youth outside the local movie theater when a new
> Walt Disney movie opened. It seems to go on forever, with people
> waiting in the cold or rain or heat to bring a raft of papers and
> documents before an INS officer and take their best shot. By all
> accounts, it is not a pleasant experience.
>
> No one may accompany the supplicant, so it is all hearsay, but
what
> a careful listener will hear is that the officer does not really
> want you in the U.S. Basically, the applicant is required to prove
> to the officer that he or she has sufficient motives to return to
> Mexico. The result is that employed professionals or the well-to-
do
> get visas for business trips, family vacations or shopping
> excursions. The rest - the vast majority - don't bother to try.
>
> The story of one young neighbor of mine in Mexico is instructive
and
> not atypical. Jorge, let's call him, was an intelligent and
outgoing
> seventeen year old. We hired him to do some odd jobs at the house
> and over time became close to his family - other members had also
> worked for us. He got a degree in mathematics from the local
> university and hoped to teach. But there were no positions.
>
> Teachers do not retire in Mexico: They can't afford to give up the
> job. All that was available was part-time work grading papers and
> otherwise taking the load off senior teachers. It was low paying
> even by Mexican standards. The U.S., however, has a real need for
> mathematics teachers, especially those who speak Spanish and
> English, as he does.
>
> Jorge went through the legal process. He set up a bank account,
> which he, like many youths from the town, had never had before.
His
> father pulled together his income records to demonstrate the
> family's means and went to considerable trouble to put a piece of
> land in his son's name. It was all to no avail.
>
> His application was denied because, said the INS officer, his
> English was so very good that he had obviously been illegally to
the
> States to learn it. He tried to explain that he had acquired his
> excellent, American English in an intensive language course: four
> hours a night, almost every Friday night of the year for five
years,
> playing cards with American businessmen.
>
> Yeah, right. Denied. Jorge took the other route to the United
States.
>
> Jorge had one other thing in common with most Mexican immigrants,
> apart from the "get-up-and- go" that Americans used to admire.
Legal
> or otherwise, they are focused. They are not coming to wander
> aimlessly about. They are headed for a specific town or city where
> some family member or friend from their village is now or has
been,
> and where they will be received by an extended family that
provides
> initial shelter and will show them the ropes. Think of it as a
> combination social service and employment agency, provided tax
free.
>
> The point is, the overwhelming majority of these people come here
> looking for work. And it is clear the U.S. economy has a place for
> them. In several industries it has a critical need: meat packing
and
> food processing, agriculture, hotel and restaurant services or
> bilingual mathematics instruction, for example.
>
> What can be done? In the short term, first the security of the
> border with Mexico must be guaranteed to the satisfaction of
anxious
> citizens, the overwhelming majority of whom believe, correctly,
that
> it is not now sufficiently secured - although it strikes me that a
> garrisoned wall is unnecessary and offensive.
>
> Second, we need to reform the legal process and direct the flow
> through a series of modern-day Ellis Islands, preferably in the
> interior of Mexico, fully staffed and funded to serve as welcome
> centers that will identify the newcomers, find out where they are
> headed, and try to match them up with legal employers in the U.S.
In
> the new process a determination can be made if these are temporary
> workers or people who want to become Americans. They can then be
> monitored and assisted appropriately. When these two steps are
> accomplished, it will then be possible to revisit the legalization
> process for those who are already established in the country.
>
> Of course, as I think it over, perhaps these proposed processing
> centers ought not be called "welcome centers." We wouldn't want to
> give the wrong impression. How about, Immigration Identification,
> Security and Control Centers? That ought to push all the right
> buttons on the talk-radio dial.
>
> But for the long term, only raising the living standards of the
> Mexican people will staunch the flow. The U.S. and Canada
together,
> but chiefly the U.S., need to invest in Mexico on the scale of a
> Marshall Plan, or as West Germany invested in East Germany at the
> reunification, and for the same reason. Huge disparities in the
> living standards of societies living in close proximity inevitably
> invite migration to the more prosperous society. The wider the
gap,
> the greater the flow.
>
> This investment in Mexico will have two other benefits for the
U.S.
> Like the Marshall Plan, it can be structured to create
opportunities
> for American businesses and expand markets for U.S. goods and
> services. And it will give the Mexican government an incentive to
> fix a policy that effectively exports its unemployment to the U.S.
>
> What are the chances? It is difficult to say, but I am not voting
> for anybody for president, U.S. Senate or Congress in the 2008
> elections who does not advance some kind of similar plan.
>
> Mr. Krauss, a writer, was formerly an executive for a railroad
based
> in Mexico City.
>
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
> but chiefly the U.S., need to invest in Mexico on the scale of a
> Marshall Plan
> |
Great idea. Would that be in addition to the twenty billion sent to Mexico from the US annualy as remittances?
We could add that to the twelve billion spent in Iraq each month. Why not? We have nothing but money. We can't pay for veteran care or offer our
students a well-rounded education or afford to build a mandated fence or.......well, the list goes on. But, these things don't matter, not when
Mexico has to be built up to twenty first century standards.
Why don't they have their cartels build Mexico? Unlike the US with her national debt credit card, the cartels have cash. Oh yeah, most of that
came from the US as well.
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JESSE
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You know Dennis, it seems constantly you enjoy making not so friendly comments about Mexico, allways pointing out how bad its here and how its all
just a big mess. I am not going to start a discussion with you here, but i just want you to know that at least me, finds it very uncomfortable to put
it mildly to read all your negative comments about my country. Yes, some of the things you talk about are true, but not all by a long shot. Seems to
me your angry about something, and its not probably Mexico since you choose to live here, so thats your problem. I am not saying talking bad about
Mexico should not happen here, everybody has the right to complain about something that's affecting his or her life or livelihood, but man, your just
non stop, with illegals, with drugs, with politicians, with remittances, my question to you is? is there anything about Mexico you like?
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DENNIS
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Oh, by the way...........
Slim Helu, the richest man in the freaked out world, could support our efforts in the Middle East for four months before he tapped out. If he ever
wants to get into charity, this would be a good place to start or, on the other hand, he could give back to the country that made him fat, and I
don't mean buying the place.
Micro-loans are proving to be effective. He could do that if the uncontrolable urge to charge 50% interest didn't enter into it.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
my question to you is? is there anything about Mexico you like? |
Well yeah...........I posted it today on another thread. I like those bacon wrapped hot dogs.
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toneart
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We are all in this together, Dennis. I don't agree with any writer's opinion 100%.
I just find proposed solutions, right or wrong, and discussions thereof, more interesting and potentially unifying.
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JESSE
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
my question to you is? is there anything about Mexico you like? |
Well yeah...........I posted it today on another thread. I like those bacon wrapped hot dogs. |
Thats what i suspected.
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Cypress
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The people who are supposed to control the border, both north and south of it, are dancing around the issue while we pay the band. We need a new band, or at least some new dancers. This same-o-same-o is getting old and moldy.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
We are all in this together, Dennis. I don't agree with any writer's opinion 100%.
I just find proposed solutions, right or wrong, and discussions thereof, more interesting and potentially unifying. |
That's good. I hope you feel unified by my response, my part of the discussion. I'm already being trashed here for my above opinion being an attack
on Mexico. It wasn't, by any means. It was my disgust for the spending policy of the United States. I mean, how long has it been since the US
was merely broke? Debts eventually have to be paid. Does that make me mean-spirited?
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
my question to you is? is there anything about Mexico you like? |
Well yeah...........I posted it today on another thread. I like those bacon wrapped hot dogs. |
Thats what i suspected. |
Does that mean you'll put them on your menu?
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JESSE
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
my question to you is? is there anything about Mexico you like? |
Well yeah...........I posted it today on another thread. I like those bacon wrapped hot dogs. |
Thats what i suspected. |
Does that mean you'll put them on your menu? |
Anything to make you happy.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
my question to you is? is there anything about Mexico you like? |
Well yeah...........I posted it today on another thread. I like those bacon wrapped hot dogs. |
Thats what i suspected. |
Does that mean you'll put them on your menu? |
Anything to make you happy. |
Well, Thank you, Jesse.
You maybe didn't notice but, we just had a little discussion. I really enjoyed it.
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Mexitron
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
my question to you is? is there anything about Mexico you like? |
Well yeah...........I posted it today on another thread. I like those bacon wrapped hot dogs. |
Thats what i suspected. |
Does that mean you'll put them on your menu? |
Anything to make you happy. |
Well, Thank you, Jesse.
You maybe didn't notice but, we just had a little discussion. I really enjoyed it. |
How many quote windows can you put here before the screen implodes?!
[Edited on 7-26-2007 by Mexitron]
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JESSE
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
my question to you is? is there anything about Mexico you like? |
Well yeah...........I posted it today on another thread. I like those bacon wrapped hot dogs. |
Thats what i suspected. |
Does that mean you'll put them on your menu? |
Anything to make you happy. |
Well, Thank you, Jesse.
You maybe didn't notice but, we just had a little discussion. I really enjoyed it. |
Just a lovely chat.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by JESSE
my question to you is? is there anything about Mexico you like? |
Well yeah...........I posted it today on another thread. I like those bacon wrapped hot dogs. |
Thats what i suspected. |
Does that mean you'll put them on your menu? |
Anything to make you happy. |
Well, Thank you, Jesse.
You maybe didn't notice but, we just had a little discussion. I really enjoyed it. |
Just a lovely chat. |
Yes it was........still is.
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Eli
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Wow guys, cool pattern, kind of reminds me of Pop art.
Toneart, excellent thoughts presented, give me hope and sounds a lot better than what we got going for us now, feeding the coyotes..........
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toneart
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Eli
Wow guys, cool pattern, kind of reminds me of Pop art.
Toneart, excellent thoughts presented, give me hope and sounds a lot better than what we got going for us now, feeding the coyotes..........
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Thank you, Eli!
The writer published this in The Wall Street Journal, which ironically, tends to lean toward the conservative viewpoint. (It is also in danger of
being acquired by Ruppert Murdock). I liked his upbeat usage of language in the piece, such as:
resolve; understand; welcome centers; create opportunities, expand markets, incentive and raise living standards. He also stated, "Through inaction
and inattention Congress has manufactured a crisis." Put all these words in the context of the topic and you have an interesting debate, at least that
was what I was hoping for when I posted it.
What do you (anyone?) think about the "Welcome center" idea? Interesting that he later gave it a more cynical description in order for it to be more
palatable to political enablers. One does need to be pragmatic when appealing to that crowd.
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woody with a view
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WHERE'S THE FENCE??????????????????
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toneart
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I'm feeling like the teacher in Blackboard Jungle. Maybe I'm wasting my time in this environment.
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Mexitron
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| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
I'm feeling like the teacher in Blackboard Jungle. Maybe I'm wasting my time in this environment. |
toneart--Its a divisive issue for many folks but your above post was a reasonable solution to the mess.
Woody--talk with South Texans about a border fence--about how their livestock won't have access to Rio Grande water anymore(from small to very large
wealthy ranchers like the Moodys); from environmentalists about how putting up the fence will completely block off a massive wildlife corridor. About
how many Texans think its a slap in the face to their friends below the border; you'd think with Texas' overabundance of patriotism that they'd be the
first to put up a fence--not so... ...a fence sounds simple...maybe in some places it will work but its not an easy blanket solution .
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