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domingo, octubre 28, 2007 Escrito PorAdam J. Segala las 12:42 PM | Comentar | Imprimir | Enviar a Correo Mexicans & Americans Thinking Together is engaged in the debate over how best to reform U.S. immigration policy.
On one hand the organization is working to engage people in both countries about the need to improve the economy in Mexico in order to reduce desperation that fuels illegal immigration. A MATT team has participated in trade missions bringing business-people from the U.S. into Mexico and bringing businesspeople to the U.S. And MATT.org continues to help expand the number of micro-loans to Mexican entrepeneurs through a partnership with Kiva and Admic. And MATT is not alone, there are more groups in Mexico working to improve communities and prevent emigration. Immigrants come to the U.S. because they need jobs that pay well. But another reason immigrant workers are here is because Americans need them. Immigrant workers strengthen the U.S. economy. MATT is cognizant of the growing local and federal efforts to crackdown on illegal workers and concerned about the impact they have. There is no doubt that the failed legislation in Congress will lead to many more actions against illegal immigrants and their employers. The organization and many groups we meet with remain concerned about the impact this has on those local economies and the national economy. One fact about crackdowns, raids and other measures is that they take a toll on workers and the people they support. And new reports shed light on the impact on families in communities in Mexico and other Latin American countries that depend upon the remittances that come from workers in America. The New York Times published a front page story last Friday (10/26) on this issue. For years, millions of Mexican migrants working in the United States have sent money back home to villages like this one, money that allows families to pay medical bills and school fees, build houses and buy clothes or, if they save enough, maybe start a tiny business. But after years of strong increases, the amount of migrant money flowing to Mexico has stagnated. From 2000 to 2006, remittances grew to nearly $24 billion a year from $6.6 billion, rising more than 20 percent some years. In 2007, the increase so far has been less than 2 percent.In a twist on this issue, one major regional newspaper columnist recently wrote that through immigrant workers and the monies they send home the U.S. is "relieving world poverty, just by hiring." What do you think? Should we be concerned about policies that make life more difficult for people who receive remittances in Mexico? If these crackdowns impact our economy should we be concerned? What if the impact is felt in both places? Perhaps that is an indication that the status quo is flawed. Tell us: |
Remittances sent to Mexico are mostly preliminary to illegals bringing their families here. When HR4437 scared illegals a couple years ago, they increased their remittances to Mexico precisely to give their families the money needed to come North. They came North.
In effect the HR4437 scare caused a blip in remittances, and in illegal immigration, precisely what the anti (allegedly) did not want. The action of the antis was counter-productive short term.
A better example of the economic opportunity (and imperative) is the firest in S CA. A major factor is the dry weather, the dry underbrush, the lack of both rain water, and of water to fight the fire.
Solution:
Pump seawater into basins in the deserts of both the SW USA and of Mexico. Half the water will percolate into the deep aquifier and become de-salinized. Half the water will evaporate into the air and become de-salinized. That moisture in the air will increase rainfall of de-salinized water on the adjacent desert areas. The desert will become semi-tropical. The clouds / water will block and reflect back heat during the day. But they will hold in heat during the night. The result will be a moderating of the extremes of hot days and cool nights in the desert.