Interesting Op-Ed piece in today's NYT about Immigration laws WRT Mexicans. Since it is not much of an issue here in New England, would you mind giving me your take on it as a Californian when you have some time?
July 23, 2001
Rethinking Mexican Immigration
he evolving partnership between
George W. Bush and Vicente Fox, the
president of Mexico, makes this a favorable
moment for both countries to revisit the
difficult immigration and border issues that have long vexed relations between
the United States and Mexico. Indeed, Mr. Bush and Mr. Fox are working
on an ambitious set of proposals that they hope to unveil during Mr. Fox's
visit to Washington in September. On the American side, the package under
consideration includes legalizing the status of some three million
undocumented Mexican workers here and embracing a more ambitious
temporary-worker program for future migrants.
In the past, this page has opposed the idea of a new amnesty for Mexicans
who have immigrated illegally to the United States in recent years. We
expressed concern that legalizing their status would undermine the integrity of
the country's immigration laws, which were reformed in 1986, and depress
the wages of the lowest-paid native-born workers. We now believe that
growing interdependence of the American and Mexican economies and the
installation of a reform government in Mexico permit the adoption of new
border policies, including a limited form of amnesty. If properly designed,
these changes could sharply reduce illegal immigration and would present no
threat to the economic welfare of native-born workers.
The American economy relies heavily on the three million undocumented
Mexican workers already here and the 150,000 new arrivals who cross the
border illegally each year. They help pick America's harvests and do other
types of arduous but essential work for which local labor supplies are
inadequate. The Mexicans, in turn, send an estimated $8 billion a year back
home to Mexico, an important boost to the Mexican economy.
Past border initiatives have foundered because of lack of cooperation from
the Mexican government, long under the control of the Institutional
Revolutionary Party, or PRI. Mr. Fox's election last year shattered the PRI
monopoly on the presidency, and his government offers the realistic hope of
a new partnership on migratory policy. President Fox is willing to work with
Washington to crack down on criminal smuggling bands and otherwise
enhance security along the border.
Under the 1986 reform law, several million illegal immigrants who entered
the country before 1982 and had lived here continuously since then were
granted legal status. Illegal aliens who had done at least 90 days of farm
work from mid-1985 to mid-1986 were also covered by the amnesty. A
different approach seems warranted today. Undocumented Mexican
workers currently in the United States should be given temporary worker
status, which would allow them to remain in the country legally. Over time,
those who qualify by length of residency and employment history could apply
to become permanent residents. Eventually, they could apply for full
citizenship. This phased approach would funnel migration that is of benefit to
both countries into legal channels, instead of criminalizing it. Concurrently,
Washington would expand the number of temporary-worker visas available
to Mexicans who want to cross the border legally. That would help
discourage illegal immigration.
President Bush must ensure that any new temporary-worker program
contains strong workers' rights provisions. Even temporary agricultural
workers should get a decent wage, have the right to organize and not be
bound to one employer.
Granting temporary visa holders meaningful rights is also important to
low-skilled American workers. This is one reason labor unions have
reversed their past opposition to legalizing the status of undocumented
workers. They no longer worry about illegal immigrants displacing
American-born job seekers as much as they worry that Mexican workers
here will drive down wages for all low-skilled workers. It is in no one's
interest that undocumented workers, assuming most are here to stay, be
relegated to an underground economy.
The deal being negotiated with Mexico must be as concerned with managing
realistic levels of future migration as it is with the status of people already in
this country. This entails not only an expanded temporary-worker program
but also raising the quota on other visas available to Mexicans, such as for
relatives, to more realistic levels. America's economy is becoming more
closely linked with that of its southern neighbor. Its immigration policies
should reflect that fact. |
