Amy Glover is exactly right; the government of Mexico MUST work harder to improve the lives of its citizens. As long as the Mexican ruling elite can send its citizens north instead of improving their lot at home, poverty in Mexico will never be cured. Mexico has been using emigration to the US as a safety valve, relieving the pressure of gross misgovernance and corruption at home. Real change might actually occur in Mexico if the government was forced to reform its economy and actively encourage Mexican companies to find jobs for its citizens.

Why should Mexico have a say (or any other country, for that matter)? This is an internal and sovereign decision by the United States.

Those countries with so many people fleeing them should worry for the root causes why so many millions risk life and limb to attempt to make it to the American Dream.

I would like for the energy we have seen from the immigrant community during the protests to be used to protest and force the Mexican government to do its citizens. The Mexican people come here, risking their life and well being, because the Mexican government can not and will not do its job. We sometimes forget that the first priority of each country's government is to its own citizens. That is fundamental.

Its unfortunate Mexican ruling class and pundits wants a say in "American Legislation" but turning a blind eye from the responsibilities of improving the lives of numerous mexicans who are compelled to break the law and borders for survival. Wrong priorities Amigos!!!

When is America going to stand up and defend itself against Mexico? We can no longer tolerate Mexico's involvement in our domestic affairs, nor their aiding the mass illegal immigration into the US.

Those who have followed the illegal immigration issue closely knows the Senate bill is arguably one of the worst pieces of legislation to ever be approved in the history of this country. It would have massive impacts that will decrease border security and increase future illegal immigration.

I ask anyone who supports the Senate bill to answer some simple questions:

1. How does this address the illegal immigration crisis?
2. How is this good for Americans?
3. What are the costs and top-level gameplan to actually enforce this bill?
4. Can you accept the US population doubling in your lifetime?

Why don't we do more to help Mexico's economy? Instead of shipping all of our jobs to India and China, why not to Mexico instead, thus creating more jobs in Mexico.

Also, why buy goods from China and other Asian countries when the same products can be made in Mexico, which is a lot closer (right next door). The shipping costs must be going up with the price of fuel. Again, by making products in Mexico and Central America, we'd be helping those people find work that will keep them in their own countries. We'd also be making stronger and wealthier neighbors, which I think would be good for us.

We could get a lot down by Uniting the Americas.

"We could get a lot down by Uniting the Americas."

I meant to say, we could get a lot done by Uniting the Americas "economically"
.

There's something going on by way
of money being paid to members of
the senate.. for most of them to
turn the backs on the american people.

I think (Alta) California is starting to expand south into Baja California, and El Paso and Ciudad Juarez are as closely linked as Detroit and Windsor.

Not to mention that Mexico is emerging as a desirable second home/retirement area and Cancun just might be competing directly with Daytona Beach.

I suspect the Americas are a bit more united than most of us suppose.

test

The U.S. trully holds the power over Mexico. If the U.S. enforced their existing laws there would be a flood of illegals going back to Mexico on there own accord. If we closed the border there would be a revolution tomorrow in Mexico. I think mexico needs a revolution. The U.S. is the enabler of dysfunctional Mexican politics.

I find it astonishing how one-sided most of these comments are. It's all about how the illegal immigration problem is all Mexico's fault. Now, on the one hand, I agree that Mexico has long used emigration as an escape valve, and it needs to radically improve its record on creating jobs on its own soil. But on the other hand, it could be argued that the U.S. has been much more of an AGENT in creating this escape valve for Mexico in the first place. If there wasn't a need for low wage labor in the U.S., these people wouldn't be crossing the border in the first place. Ultimately, illegal immigration is as much a benefit to U.S. consumers as it is to the Mexican economy. We do the same thing blaming China for the trade imbalance, when it's our own companies who have set up the manufacturing plants in China to lower retail prices in the U.S. market.

It would be rather refreshing to hear Americans acknowledge that we can all afford more goods and services thanks to the low labor cost that illegal immigration makes possible. Given that our prosperity rides on the backs of people desperate enough to risk their lives across a desert maybe then we could spare a little empathy and help them out (imagine that).

People who break laws to feed their families are responding to a higher imperative, that of survival. If we call them on that, maybe we ought to check our own moral compass. That a rich nation like ours has such a shrill and disingenious debate is sad and embarrassing.

America closing its borders to the poor and tired? Maybe we should ship back the Statue of Liberty first and disown the words that enshrine that monument to humanity's last hope and freedom.

"Whatever happens with the congressional legislation, notes columnist Amy Glover in La Cronica de Hoy (in Spanish), "the difference between wages in the United Status and Mexico will not change in the short run, that is to say, the most powerful motive for migration will remain. It is a fact that Mexico must begin to focus more on its internal problems that prevent the generation of economic opportunity for its people. This is the true root of the problem."

Finally somebody tells it like it is!!!!!, for those who keep blaming the US for mass illegal immigration should ask themselves WHO is the real culprit here. Perhaps Presidente Fox, his privileged cohort and the elites who rule Mexico can shed some light about it, after all, they are the ones who earn plump salaries while most of the population (especially in the mexican northern state), merely survive. Mexicans don't illegally cross the border just because they want to do tourism or visit a resort but they have no opportunities in their own country whatsoever, opportunities denied due to corruption, cronyism and ineptitude. Our country should not be held responsible for somebody else's problems and maladies. Mexicans have and must work hard to achieve prosperity so they can also achieve their very own "mexican dream" and leave those who enter our country LEGALLY achieve the american one.

Imagine if the countries immigrants came from back in the 1800 and 1900's tried to exert the same influence upon US immigration legislation as Mexico is doing now. If the political leaders from those countries came to the US to speak to their fellow countrymen as Fox did recently, what would the US' reaction have been then?

I find Mexico's reaction to our imminent immigration legislation to be both hypocritical and well, typical. That is, they have only to look at their own immigration laws and the way they treat immigrants further to the south to see that what the US is doing is certainly more reasonable. Typical, in that Mexico's only has themselves to blame for this immigration problem, not the US. Would they take care of their own economy and look inward for the answers, this would not be an issue. Of course, that would require change and not taking the easy way out, which is what politician's do.

You can bet Mexico and their ruling class are starting to get nervous (no wonder Fox was recently touring the NW US)... tighten up the border, reduce the number of people entering the US illegally and you increase the pressure on the 'power's-that-be' in Mexico to share the wealth. El Patron's going to have to give some of it up!

The border is the pressure relief valve for Mexico's economic inequities. Shut that off and something's going to blow down there.

You wouldn't like what I would say, so what's the use of a "Real American" saying anything,
DEPORT THEM ALL BACK.+ More

Carl writes: "If there wasn't a need for low wage labor in the U.S., these people wouldn't be crossing the border in the first place."

There will always be a market for low wage labor. However, US citizens (teens, seniors, p/t job seekers, disabled, etc.) should fill these jobs - not illegal immigrants. Immigration increases the supply of U.S. labor, thus it reduces wages and/or jobs are more scarce for natives.

In the long run, our economy will be hurt by the exploding illegal population (66M over 20 years, Heritage Foundation). Our social services infrastructure will crumble (social security, education, food stamps, healthcare), while the poor US consumer is expected to foot the bill.

Eye-opening statistics from the Center for Immigration Studies (www.cis.org) includes:
* less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops but 29% are on welfare
* 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens
* over 2/3's of all births in Los Angeles are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal whose births were paid for by taxpayers.
* nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal

Bottomline, the U.S. needs TOUGH immigration reform (not another amnesty) and Mexico had better get their house in order.

Examine the facts carefully before you so freely advocate for open borders.

Iowa Immigrant...

Although immigration was a rich part of U.S. history does not mean it should continue today. Laws and U.S. policy are ever-changing (no more cocaine in Coca-Cola, slavery was abolished, women receive the right to vote, immigration reform, etc.).

What's sad and embarrassing is that 12M immigrants chose NOT to protest in their own country of orgin to make it a better place.
Instead, they opt for the path of least resistance - - to enter the U.S. illegally, take our jobs, suck-up on U.S. welfare and medical services including a free education for the kids.

I vote to keep the Statue of Liberty but ship you back!

Amazing how nobody in this country seems to have the slightest inkling of how imperialism regulates the single labor market comprising the USA, Mexico, and Central America.

All this talk of Fox this or that, borders this or that, building bogus walls, deporting workers: it's just so much obscurantist nonsense.

The system is working exactly as intended to maximize profits. The demands of the nativists are noise to keep the yokels agitated against the brown skinned OTHER. The Minutemen are the modern KKK. .

...and the KKK always had a willing social base in the United States. Lynching was a popular activity. The more things change...

TY Jeff for saving me time and energy of responding to people like carl and the immigrant--Have them come down here on the border and live a few months-

Again thanks Jeff-telling it like it was,is and will be until we close the border and get a handle on "ILLEGAL"immigration.
g.e.b. Estrada

"deport them all back. + more" more? like second and third generation? how about 5th and 6th generation? explain that, please?

i agree with Amy Glover, the real problem is the poor situation in Mexico. But the effects are felt in the US as well, so both countries have a stake in improving the domestic situation in Mexico. people want to blame Fox for that situation, but remember, he was the first non-PRI president in over 70 years. it is not practical to expect him to undo a culture of corruption in a single six-year term. what would the US domestic economy look like if either the republicans or democrats held power (notice i said power, not just the president's office) for 70 years? in either case i know a lot of people might want to leave here, too.

as for Fox having a say in US domestic policy, he doesnt, and he knows that. but he can still voice an opinion. you know, kind of like Bush does in Russia, China, Iran, DPRK, France, Colombia, MEXICO (recent drug law) etc. etc. there is nothing wrong with Bush voicing his opinion on those countries' domestic policy, and there is nothing wrong with Fox voicing his opinion on US domestic policy. It's just an opinion, and he is human so he has to have one. and this particular issue affects his citizens, like their drug law affects US citizens. (hell, even VICE PRESIDENT cheney voices his opinions, so does Rice, as does Rumsfeld, on domestic policy of other countries.)

i still want to know what that genius meant by "+ more."

"deport them all back. + more" more? like second and third generation? how about 5th and 6th generation? explain that, please?

i agree with Amy Glover, the real problem is the poor situation in Mexico. But the effects are felt in the US as well, so both countries have a stake in improving the domestic situation in Mexico. people want to blame Fox for that situation, but remember, he was the first non-PRI president in over 70 years. it is not practical to expect him to undo a culture of corruption in a single six-year term. what would the US domestic economy look like if either the republicans or democrats held power (notice i said power, not just the president's office) for 70 years? in either case i know a lot of people might want to leave here, too.

as for Fox having a say in US domestic policy, he doesnt, and he knows that. but he can still voice an opinion. you know, kind of like Bush does in Russia, China, Iran, DPRK, France, Colombia, MEXICO (recent drug law) etc. etc. there is nothing wrong with Bush voicing his opinion on those countries' domestic policy, and there is nothing wrong with Fox voicing his opinion on US domestic policy. It's just an opinion, and he is human so he has to have one. and this particular issue affects his citizens, like their drug law affects US citizens. (hell, even VICE PRESIDENT cheney voices his opinions, so does Rice, as does Rumsfeld, on domestic policy of other countries.)

i still want to know what that genius meant by "+ more."

Iowa Immigrant,

First of all, even during prior Great Waves of immigration, there were strict criteria for who was allowed here. There was no "pump out one anchor baby and bring in 20 family members" stuff going on, and medical exams were performed, etc.

Secondly, many people are waking up to the problems that excessive immigration is causing to native US citizens. Though you are a human being and God's creation, and I oppose policies that would inflict undue harm upon Mexico or oppressive "guest worker" neo-slavery programs, the US has a responsibility, first and foremost, to its poor citizens. In addition to providing a relief valve for Mexico's injustice, excessive immigration is one reason that real wages in the US have declined since 1973. Formerly, high-paying unionized jobs in meatpacking and construction allowed a worker who wasn't law or medical school material to support a family honorably. Now, in part due to an overly liberal immigration policy, those same jobs do not pay a living wage. It's a matter of supply and demand, you see. We'd like to see lower-end jobs pay more (opportunities which would particularly help the black community), but with 100 million Mexicans next door, that's rather farfetched.

The other thing to consider is that Mexico is pretty rich: 5 BILLION people live in countries with lower per-capita income. Even if the US could somehow absorb the 20-40% of the Mexican population who would like to come here (see the Pew Hispanic Foundation survey), can we really support the 5 billion who would follow?

In 1825 Mexico goverment give permission to white people to settle in what is now Texas, soon after they revolt to form their own state, The US Gvment troops to help them, Mexico sent troops to push them back of nueces river, that was and invasion by Mexico according to US gvment and give way to the mexican american war, the US force the sale of what now is california, nevada, colorado, arizona, new mexico and wyoming, after failed intent to buy this territories, there is a clause that guarantees mexican citizens transit in this territories, some people might say that alot has changed since then, that 150 years had pass, but the us contitution, is older than that, on top of that, US has always intervined in mexican politics,
backing the factions that prevented the mexican people to develop a prosperous nation, the US was behind the dictartorship of porfirio diaz for 30 yrs, till the mexican revolution in 1910, support the party in power for 70 yrs after that, always taking the labor of mexicans when needed, and with massive deportations when the economy was bad, and never to recognize(with rights)the hard labor of the mexican people, when the mongering is going to stop?.

People like Jett make it abundantly clear that they don't understand the meaning behind the Statue of Liberty or can fathom its significance.

Now as for Jett's scary statistics, lets be fair. The Heritage Foundation and the CIS are ring-wing propaganda centers whose 'facts' are cherry picked to fit their particularly xenophobic world outlook.

CIS was spawned by FAIR, the militant anti-immigration group. CIS masquerades as an objective think tank, but they simply churn out high-sounding factoids for the mudracking anti-immigration forces in the U.S. Check it out yourself, Google them.

Immigration, legal and illegal, between the U.S. and Mexico has been a fact of life for more than 150 years. It is high time that both countries faced the fact with humanitarian dignity and resolve. This debate is much too important to be highjacked by the likes of Jett and his statistical charade.

Wow! There has been a lot of blame slinging here. On the one hand, if Mexico would get it's act together and provide a better life for it's own citizens, there would less ILLEGAL immigration. On the other hand, if American companies would actually stay LEGAL and pay ANY of it's workers a fair wage and ALSO take out taxes, etc. then we would not have a welfare burden placed unfairly on tax-paying residents.

While it is true that this problem has existed for a very long time, we can only be responsible for our side. If our government can get the Mexican government to improve life for it's own citizens, great! But if they refuse, what options do we have than to more strictly enforce the ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION LAWS?

There is a significant difference between an immigrant and an illegal alien.

Poverty, corruption, oppression general societal dysfunction impel people to leave their homelands - High wages and expanded economic and social opportunities will continue to attract people regardless of the amount of fencing on the border.

The influx of illegal aliens from Mexico was created by the Bracero program of 1942 and the IRCA amnesty of 1986 thus legitimizing a large Mexican population residing in the US. Then the US federal government failed to enforce laws against the hiring of illegal aliens thus promoting a climate the encourages more illegal aliens to enter.

A network of relatives and friends is established in country and it is this network that works hard to bring their friends and family here, also illegally, by paying others to bring them across.