Mexico's Dirty Little Secret

CROSSPOSTED FROM The Uncooperative Blogger

From Grand Forks Herald:

In 2002, Mexico’s Foreign Relations Ministry established the Institute of Mexicans Abroad to strengthen ties with the growing Mexican migrant population in the U.S. There are now about 225 former and current members, including more than a dozen from the Dallas area, and they meet regularly to consult with the administration of President Vicente Fox.

They come from immigrant communities as diverse as Miami and Fresno, Calif., Dallas and Del Rio, Texas, Houston and Los Angeles. Even as they press for reforms on in Washington, they are also pressing for reforms in Mexico - the chief country of origin for illegal and legal immigration to the United States.

“We don’t want them (the Mexican government) to applaud us,” said Mario Ramirez, a member of the institute and an owner of a chain of taquerias and bakeries in the Dallas area. “We want commitments from them.”

Ramirez said he wants Mexican authorities to commit to economic development, job creation, and the expansion of credit for entrepreneurs in Mexico. “They have co-responsibility for why so many of us are here,” he said. And with so much money flowing back to Mexico in remittances, “we are basically supporting the country,” said the businessman, who also sends money back to his mother.

This guy has it exactly right. Instead of Mexico getting involved in our politics, with regard to their citizens living in our country illegally, they should be fixing their economy so their people don’t want to come here.

In the meantime we need to make this country less enticing to people from other countries that wish to come here illegally.

Already in Dallas, at least, there are efforts to counter the proposed boycott by immigrants and their supporters.

“We’re telling our members if you have a big-ticket item that you want to purchase, wait till May 1 to shop,” said Jean Towell, the Dallas-based president of Citizens for Immigration Reform, a group that supports tougher enforcement of immigration laws. “We’re saying to our group, go out and shop and show that we can carry the economy without illegal immigrants.”

This is a good idea, keep it in mind. Even though it seems to be canceled, it could be a trick.

**This was a production of the coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let us know at what level you would like to participate.