Legal Mexican nationals face problems in U.S.
By Lynn Zerschling Journal staff writer | Posted: Saturday, August 05, 2006
When flying out of Omaha to Mexico City Monday, Sioux City Councilman Jim Rixner saw first had some of the problems facing Americans of Mexican descent.
"These were people traveling with children there and I found out about the hard times they have getting time to take off from work in order to be with family members," he said Friday after arriving home at 2 in the morning.
He and 34 other elected officials from the United States were invited to attend a four-day conference sponsored by the Institute for Mexicans Living Abroad, an agency affiliated with the Mexican government. Rixner was the only public official from Iowa participating in the conference.
"I learned a great deal. I think we better understand the needs of Mexican people living in the United States now," he said. "It's important for people in Sioux City to know that the 35 of us who were there from state, local and one congressman from San Diego -- were able to give feedback to our hosts."
Many of the U.S. officials spoke Spanish and told their hosts "in no uncertain terms" that Mexican authorities must do more to stem illegal immigration into the United States.
"It's wrong for 'coyotes' to bring people across the border the way they do. It's vitally important that the Mexican government does more than it has done. We did not realize as a group we would have the opportunity to do that."
Mexican authorities emphasized their government is as interested in border security as is the United States'.
"They emphasized a number of people who come illegally into the U.S. are not Mexican nationals. They come from Central and South America, who travel through Mexico to the border."
He said he was surprised the delegates were able to meet with high ranking officials, including the secretary of state.
Issues addressed included travel between the United States and Mexico for legal residents, legal status issues including documentation and economic development efforts to improve the Mexican economy.
"They said people should go to the U.S. by choice and not by necessity" to look for work.
According to numbers given the conferees by Mexican officials, there are more than 30 million people of Mexican heritage who have lived in this country for generations. Some are naturalized citizens. Five million more have legal status to be in the United States.
"The remaining six million -- this is a contentious number -- are here illegally from Mexico," Rixner quoted officials as reporting.
"My concern is about the 25 million who are here already and who live in Sioux City. I think I am better prepared to meet the needs of our citizens here who happen to be from Mexico."
He said he would like to open up a dialogue with residents of Mexican descent and might suggest the council hold a study session on the issue.
If necessary, delegates wore head phones to hear translations of the speakers. Rixner's expenses were paid for by the Institute for Mexicans Living Abroad,
The delegates saw the thousands of people demonstrating along the main boulevard in Mexico City, who have snarled traffic in the world's second largest city. They are demanding a recount of the July 2 presidential election. Protest organizers said they will not leave until the Federal Election Court orders a recount.
"It was very impressive -- people came in every night by the bus loads. ...The traffic is incredible. They have 20 million people living there and at least 250,000 taxi cabs -- plus these demonstrators. It's a peaceful protest -- with more people on the way."
Two police motorcycle officers escorted their tour bus daily, clearing traffic at every intersection to allow the bus to get from their hotel to the meetings. Rixner said he took the time to visit a museum and a cathedral.
Lynn Zerschling may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynnzerschling@siouxcityjournal.com
"These were people traveling with children there and I found out about the hard times they have getting time to take off from work in order to be with family members," he said Friday after arriving home at 2 in the morning.
He and 34 other elected officials from the United States were invited to attend a four-day conference sponsored by the Institute for Mexicans Living Abroad, an agency affiliated with the Mexican government. Rixner was the only public official from Iowa participating in the conference.
"I learned a great deal. I think we better understand the needs of Mexican people living in the United States now," he said. "It's important for people in Sioux City to know that the 35 of us who were there from state, local and one congressman from San Diego -- were able to give feedback to our hosts."
Many of the U.S. officials spoke Spanish and told their hosts "in no uncertain terms" that Mexican authorities must do more to stem illegal immigration into the United States.
"It's wrong for 'coyotes' to bring people across the border the way they do. It's vitally important that the Mexican government does more than it has done. We did not realize as a group we would have the opportunity to do that."
Mexican authorities emphasized their government is as interested in border security as is the United States'.
"They emphasized a number of people who come illegally into the U.S. are not Mexican nationals. They come from Central and South America, who travel through Mexico to the border."
He said he was surprised the delegates were able to meet with high ranking officials, including the secretary of state.
Issues addressed included travel between the United States and Mexico for legal residents, legal status issues including documentation and economic development efforts to improve the Mexican economy.
"They said people should go to the U.S. by choice and not by necessity" to look for work.
According to numbers given the conferees by Mexican officials, there are more than 30 million people of Mexican heritage who have lived in this country for generations. Some are naturalized citizens. Five million more have legal status to be in the United States.
"The remaining six million -- this is a contentious number -- are here illegally from Mexico," Rixner quoted officials as reporting.
"My concern is about the 25 million who are here already and who live in Sioux City. I think I am better prepared to meet the needs of our citizens here who happen to be from Mexico."
He said he would like to open up a dialogue with residents of Mexican descent and might suggest the council hold a study session on the issue.
If necessary, delegates wore head phones to hear translations of the speakers. Rixner's expenses were paid for by the Institute for Mexicans Living Abroad,
The delegates saw the thousands of people demonstrating along the main boulevard in Mexico City, who have snarled traffic in the world's second largest city. They are demanding a recount of the July 2 presidential election. Protest organizers said they will not leave until the Federal Election Court orders a recount.
"It was very impressive -- people came in every night by the bus loads. ...The traffic is incredible. They have 20 million people living there and at least 250,000 taxi cabs -- plus these demonstrators. It's a peaceful protest -- with more people on the way."
Two police motorcycle officers escorted their tour bus daily, clearing traffic at every intersection to allow the bus to get from their hotel to the meetings. Rixner said he took the time to visit a museum and a cathedral.
Lynn Zerschling may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynnzerschling@siouxcityjournal.com
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