Amnesty and guest worker program: A solution or just more Mexico bashing?

By Patrick Osio, Jr.

Mexico's President Vicente Fox proposes the US give amnesty to several million Mexican nationals who migrated illegally and also wants a guest-worker program so more Mexicans can come legally and safely to work on a temporary basis.

From a Mexican perspective, Fox's proposals are sound strategy based on the reality of Mexico's economic predicament. This year alone, 1.3-million persons enter the job market, but at best Mexico will create 500,000 jobs. The 800,000-job deficit may exceed that number, as Mexico's economy is headed for a possible recession. In May alone, construction was off by 8 percent; mining down by 3.2 percent; manufacturing down by 2.8 percent, and foreign-owned maquiladoras down by 5.6 percent, marking four straight downward months with corresponding unemployment. Thus it's good strategy to try to find the jobs through a guest-worker program in the US and to a lesser extent in Canada.

And his amnesty request follows the strategy that the last thing Mexico needs right now is for Mexicans in the US to return. The return of 1 to 3 million would cause an economic catastrophe, as the jobs-deficit would jump into the millions. Plus the loss of up to 8 billion dollars they send home, an amount that rivals Mexico's oil, tourism and foreign owned maquiladoras in dollar revenues.

However, as Fox's desires reverberate throughout the US, the short hairs on the napes of many Americans and elected officials can be seen rising, some slowly while others with the speed of a Viagra overdose. While emotional outbursts against Mexico may provide venue for venting anger and frustration, they continue to ignore US industries' role and the reality of our present situation.

Illegal immigration exists because there are individuals and businesses willing to break US federal laws prohibiting hiring of undocumented workers instead of availing themselves of existing guest-worker programs, such as the H-2A visas for temporary agricultural workers. So if the Mexicans who cross our border illegally are criminals, so are those Americans hiring them.

Instead of an aggressive enforcement campaign against such hiring practices, public officials in response to special interests have for years opted for building fences, and adding Border Patrol officers along the border, but never enough. Fences and officers to keep people out, also keeps people in, so it is not surprising that the 2000 census found that of the potential 8 million illegal immigrants, over 37 percent, 3 million, are from Mexico.

The seduction of our elected officials through campaign donations and political support by special interests needing plentiful cheap and non-complaining labor has had its consequences bringing us to the present situation. According to the Urban Institute undocumented immigrants represent 34 percent of domestic workers; 23 percent of agricultural and fisheries workers; 21 percent of textile and assembly workers; 18 percent of service workers; 18 percent of material handlers and helpers; and 12 percent of transportation workers. Though it may be hard to swallow, there are sectors throughout the US that would collapse without these immigrants.

Not granting amnesty does not mean the millions denied it would return to Mexico. Now what? Finding and deporting such vast numbers would require far more personnel and economic resources than some form of official pardon. And those deported, because of their economic desperation, would make multiple attempts at returning.

The absence of a guest-worker program would not stop illegal border crossings, so the US would have to provide more than ten times the present available border resources to make a dent on the problem at a cost far higher than a guest-worker program, and still not succeed, nor satisfy the needs for their type of labor in the US.

Indications are that amnesty will face unpopular public and political support in the US. Instead the US should consider a guest-work program that would include those who are already here. The program could allow for renewal periods, and include as "guests" their immediate family members. Newcomers would enter as "contracted-guest-workers" with specific jobs waiting.

However, any program can only work provided aggressive enforcement, and severe fines and sentences are included in existing laws prohibiting the hiring of undocumented workers. This may include the need for a forgery-proof national ID card.

The argument that such a card would be an intrusion on our privacy and lend itself to abuse is lame, as we gave up privacy and opened the door to abuse when we applied for a Social Security number, a driver's license, a passport, or the first credit card.

In some US industries it is far cheaper to hire undocumented workers, then plead not knowing their status. These industries are heavy political contributors and wield much power. So we are faced with the ultimate question - will the people's Congressional representatives and Senators forgo special interests or will this turn into another round of Mexico bashing as the excuse for doing little?

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Patrick Osio, Jr. is the Editor of HispanicVista.Com and writes The Connection, a monthly column, for the San Diego Metropolitan Magazine. He may be reached through email at: hispanicvista@home.com