Top Mexican officials hope economic growth can stem illegal migration
By: OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ - Associated Press | ∞
MEXICALI, Mexico -- Top Mexican business leaders were developing ways Thursday to boost the economy and create jobs in a bid to stem illegal immigration to the United States, where authorities are tightening border security to stop migrants from entering.
President Vicente Fox told the group Thursday that he shared the private sector's concern over the lack of security along the Mexico-U.S. border but he added that security, especially when it is related to organized crime, is a joint problem with the United States.
"We have a common problem. A shared responsibility on this border," Fox said. "To achieve this security, we have to work together and stop pointing fingers and assigning blame."
The business leaders presented their ideas to an audience that included Fox and Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, among others, during a two-day Northern Frontier Forum in Mexicali, a Mexican border city in Baja California state.
The meeting comes a week after U.S. President George W. Bush signed a bill to fund additional fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border to stop migrants from entering illegally.
Mexico's six northern states have 16 million residents, and feature bustling trade and manufacturing and agricultural businesses that account for 23 percent of the country's gross domestic product.
Serious crime remains a challenge, however.
Fox again pointed out that the U.S. is the biggest market in the world for illegal drugs, and said the profit from the drug trade contributes to corruption because drug traffickers are able to corrupt government officials and police in Mexico.
Drug-related violence has left scores of people dead on the border, especially in Nuevo Laredo, across from Laredo, Texas. And in Tijuana -- across from San Diego, California -- members of the business community recently severed relations with the local government, saying police were not doing enough to stop kidnappings targeting them.
"We are transit states for drug trafficking, and public policies have to take these circumstances into account," said Reginaldo Esquer, president of the Baja California state board of business directors. The group has invited its counterparts in the other five northern border states to form a united lobbying front.
On Tuesday, Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon proposed political and economic reforms, and pledged progress on issues including law enforcement and jobs.
He said he hopes to eradicate the extreme poverty suffered by about 20 percent of Mexico's 107 million people, which forces about 400,000 to migrate, mainly to the United States, each year. Calderon said he wants Mexico to boost its per-capita income from the equivalent of about US$8,000 (euro6,380) to around US$30,000 (euro23,930) by 2030.
Fox told the business leaders Thursday that he is turning over a very healthy economy to Calderon, claiming that Mexico was able to get an additional revenue of 75 billion pesos (US$7 billion; euro5.6 billion) this year that will be distributed to state and city governments. Of that 75 billion pesos, Fox says 12 billion (US$1 billion; euro800 million) will go to the border region.
"The border states are having an extraordinary year," Fox said, adding that 1 million jobs have been created.
President-elect Calderon begins a six-year term on Dec. 1, and has promised to keep lobbying U.S. lawmakers to pass a guest-worker program for Mexican migrants. Fox championed the move throughout his term and U.S. President George W. Bush initially supported it.
The program failed to muster sufficient support in the U.S. Congress, and has been dropped by the White House, at least until after the November congressional elections.
Congress focused instead on security, arguing that the porous U.S.-Mexico border could be used by terrorists trying to sneak into the U.S., although there has been no evidence of that.
Last week, Bush signed a homeland security funding bill that includes US$1.2 billion (euro960 million) for fencing along the border to stop illegal crossings by immigrants and criminals.
On the Net:
The Northern Frontier Forum (English): http://www.lafronteranorte.com/eng/antecedents.htm
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Fox says stop pointing fingers and assigning blame wrote on Oct 12, 2006 8:26 PM:Fox says, "stop pointing fingers and assigning blame." How convenient that the gentleman that has been at the helm of the ship known as Mexico, doesn't want to accept responsibility when it strikes the iceberg. I'm a simple man that lacks a formal education, but I'll take a stab at it. As a businessman, I learned long ago that reinventing the wheel is a futile effort at best, and at worst nothing less than disasterous. So, follow the model of a similar, succesfull business and emulate it to the best of your ability. What I'm referring to is their old neighbor, the U.S. of A. Mexico has a lot of natural resources as well as an ample workforce. Why not open Mexico up to foreign investment as the USA has? Allow foreigners to OWN (fee simple) property near the border and on the coastline and implement laws that would protect these folks property ownership rights and watch investors line up and Mexico's economy soar. Well, that would be a simple solution to both Mexico's financial woes as well as the poor people that feel they have to abandon their homeland to work in a foreign country away from family and friends. But that would be too easy. What would all of the corrupt officials that have had it too easy do? Herein lies the dilemma. Does Mexico allow a few families continue to run the place into financial ruin while lining their pockets, or do they do whats right for their countymen and future generations and truly open the place up to foreign investment? I have a friend that lost a seven figure sum while investing in Cabo San Lucas many years ago. He did everything by the book on both sides of the border with attorneys on both sides. His investment is now worth ten times his initial investment and is in litigation with the hopes of just receiving some of the original money back. These things have happenend to many people who have invested in Mexico. The answer to the immigration problem is as obvious as Mr. Fox's high heeled cowboy boots. When greed and corruption collide with the hunger of a country's people. Either the country changes, or the people find a new address. Can you blame them? I'm pointing my finger at you, Mr. Fox
Gary in Murrieta wrote on Oct 12, 2006 10:19 PM:The Mexican government is guilty of "dumping" their citizens on the United States, so they don't have any responsibility for the needs of their people. It's like the dumping of your people on another country. The invasion of illegal Immigrants is overwhelming the resources of California, and the United States. I do not see much incentive for Mexico to fix its’ problems, as long as we continue to take their unwanted people.
CC wrote on Oct 12, 2006 10:56 PM:Please don't refer to Calderon as President-"elect". The Mexican government declined to validate the recent vote in a complete recount. So, it's an open question as to whether Calderon really won.
anotherview wrote on Oct 13, 2006 12:34 AM:Yes, stop pointing fingers. Mexico cannot ignore its role in providing economic prosperity for its people. Both foreign tourism and oil exports bring large sums of revenue to Mexico. Where exactly does this flood of annual revenue go? How much of this national wealth benefits the poorest Mexicans? Yes, Mexico could also enact reforms to allow foreign investment and property ownership as a means to foster national prosperity. Yet, the present revenue and the resources of Mexico should boost the living standard of the Mexican people. What plan of action, in detail, does Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon propose to distribute and apply the wealth of Mexico to his countrymen?
Gary wrote on Oct 13, 2006 1:30 AM:Yeah just like the Democrats love to say, "The Election Was Stolen"!
Ben wrote on Oct 13, 2006 4:47 AM:One of the biggest reasons the Mexican government condoens / encourages their people to come to the US is taht they know that a large portion of the money earned is immediately sent back to Mexico to provide for the men's families. Mexico gains greatly by the moneyu influx and we loss since the money is not spent with our local businesses. The Mex government would be foolish to want that to stop!
Patriot wrote on Oct 13, 2006 8:13 AM:Did any editor at AP look at Olga Rodriguez's story before putting it out on the wire? She asserted that the Congress argued "that the porous U.S.-Mexico border could be used by terrorists trying to sneak into the U.S., although there has been no evidence of that". A little investigation would have revealed that groups have indeed smuggled in simulated WMDs to demonstrate that terrorists COULD indeed sneak into the U.S. There may not be evidence that terrorists HAVE crossed the Mexican border, but there is evidence that they COULD.
Good Idea wrote on Oct 13, 2006 10:02 AM:Now let's give Mexico back it's poor so they can help them!
No kidding !! wrote on Oct 13, 2006 11:17 AM:Increasing economic growth and job opportunities in Mexico might effect a decrease in illegal US immigration ?!?! really! Ya think! Duh! Of course it will! Its long since past time to have done something on this front to quell the flow of illegal immigration. Its long past time Mexico got off its butt and did something to mitigate the problem. Mexico has even more oppressive immigration laws than we do, but willingly tolerate it when others are only passing thru Mexico on their way to the US. Building fences and increasing border patrols and enforcement and passing stupid legislation to make life in the US as an illegal immigrate a greater hell can only go so far. Those people come here to get a job ...if they already had one in their home country they would risk their lives to come here. What needs to be done is to entice those that are already here to go home by making it possible for them to actually earn a living wage in their own countries... Mexico is a start ... that needs to be expanded ...but countries to the south are in the same boat. And they need to step up to the plate and do the same things. An sooner rather than later.
Pointing fingers wrote on Oct 13, 2006 6:06 PM:One more thing. The gentleman that Mr. Fox was meeting with, Carlos Slim, is the third wealthiest man in the WORLD. Telecommunications is only part of the story. Uh, oh, there's a loud knock at my door
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