HispanicVista Columnists

We note two proposed US congressional bills designed to put more order in the migration system. There are differences between the two, some good things and some erroneous things. The odd thing is that President Bush, at the beginning of this year voiced his support for some sort of "guest worker" program. Now that these bills are being worked out in committee, the White House suddenly removed its participation in the compromise process. But it was the White House that suggested reform in the first place.

There are cynics (as I am one) saying that there are too many hidden interests that like things the way they are now with no change. One group however is openly complaining about "reform". The agricultural sector is pointing out that without "cheap" imported labor for farm work, there are looming problems for that sector. We have also heard the same thing from the fishing industry. But little else has been heard from business interests on the issue.

Is this just another case of the Bush administration taking a noble stand, but later giving into pressure from hidden business interests? I wonder.

Both of these bills propose better support for border enforcement along with better internal enforcement. In both cases, the administration has resisted. But along with this must be a better-staffed administration to deal with the reality of the number of visas necessary to make the system work. It must take into account that most migrants want to work when work is available but be able to return home when the work is finished. As it is now, those swimming the river are then trapped in the North; for fear that they will never be able to get back in.

In short, my position is that if there is a legitimate need for workers, there should be a functional system to admit and control this flow of labor. And here we get into security issues. As it is, the system turns loose those transgressing México from other countries and ships the Mexicans back to México. This is border security?

Yes, México shares in the blame here by not providing an economy that can provide real work for its people. But the driving force is the need for labor (and young labor at that) in the North. Always look at what drives the market. If there were no jobs for these people, there would be no migration. Period. The trick is to make a realistic system that works to satisfy the market. And do it legally for the benefit for all.

Now México is at admitting some if its participation in the problem. INEGI (México's National Statistics Institute) states that part of México's low unemployment rate (yes, the figures are phony, but are becoming more realistic) is due to two things: The lack of an unemployment program and migration. These are problems that must be addressed by the Mexican people and their elected government, but the market needs of the US must be addressed by the citizens of the US and their elected government. The key word in both cases is reality. Reality must be faced and dealt with.

Speaking about the present visa system of the US, I am following the efforts of a Mexican individual in his efforts to obtain a visa for a short visit to the US. In this case, I know the man; he is not just a statistic.

This man has a good employment history and is in middle management with an established company here. He is a native Mexican citizen. He owns property here, and has good prospects for continued employment. On top of this, he is a degreed university graduate. In other words, he is what we would call a middle class citizen of México and he has no criminal history whatsoever.

He has a friend in the US and would like to make a short visit to see this person. Sounds just like a normal thing for someone to be able to do in a free country. But we will see how it goes for him. He is starting his second attempt to legally visit the US five months before his planned visit. I will report his progress later.

Let's see just how the US visa system really works.
_____________________________________
Richard N. Baldwin T., a HispanicVista.com (http://www.hispanicvista.com/) contributing columnist, lives in Tlalnepantla, Edo de México. E-mail at: R1041643422@aol.com