 |
|
|
 News from Around the Americas | August 2005 
Guest-Worker Plan Backed In Survey
 Toby Eckert - Copley News Service
| | President Bush's plan to offer legal status to millions of illegal immigrants working in the USA might mean a steadier labor supply for businesses who rely heavily on such employees. |
Washington – With pressure growing on Congress and the White House to impose tighter controls on immigration, a survey released yesterday showed that four in 10 Mexicans would immigrate to the United States if given the chance and more than half would consider participating in a guest-worker program like the one proposed by President Bush.
A separate survey also conducted by the nonpartisan Pew Hispanic Center revealed a split in attitudes among native-and foreign-born Latinos in the United States on immigration-related issues, including whether illegal immigrants should be allowed to get driver licenses. Most U.S.-born Latinos agreed that illegal immigrants should be barred from getting licenses, while a similar majority of foreign-born Latinos disagreed.
Pew's report on migration-related attitudes in Mexico showed interest in coming to the United States remains strong, including among those who earn well above the minimum wage and are well educated. Forty-one percent of Mexicans surveyed in February and 46 percent in May said they would live in the United States if they "had the means and opportunity."
"Very significant portions of the Mexican adult population have the thought of migration in mind and view it as an option," said Roberto Suro, director of the Pew Hispanic Center. "A significant portion, two out of 10, are willing to consider the idea of coming here without authorization."
"It's very strong in the middle class. It's very strong among people who have some high school education and even among Mexicans who have been to college," he added.
The Mexico survey results were based on household interviews in 120 locations in February and May. The error margin is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Advocates of stricter limits on immigration said the numbers show that immigration from Mexico, legal and illegal, is unlikely to decrease even if the economy there improves or birth rates decline.
"What that tells us is that thinking about immigration as a demographic or a wage differential doesn't make sense," said Steven Camarota, research director at the Center for Immigration Studies.
Quality of life issues, including law and order, are just as important, Camarota said.
Congress is split on the issue, particularly when it comes to illegal immigration. While some lawmakers support a temporary worker program, others favor tighter border security and cracking down on illegal immigration.
Pressure at the U.S.-Mexico border has been growing. The governors of New Mexico and Arizona recently declared emergencies in counties bordering Mexico, citing violence and property damage by illegal immigrants. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us