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 Editorials | Opinions | October 2006 
10 Years in a Mexican Jail: Tightening Immigration Policy
 LittleLady - progressiveu.org
| | A foreigner who enters Mexico illegally for the first time may find themselves in prison for two years. A foreigner who violates the terms of their visa or has false papers may face up to six years in prison. An illegal immigrant who is deported and attempts to reenter can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. |
The United States is a land of immigrants. Our nation was formed upon the backs of the laboring class that came here seek better lives. However, when those immigrants start to threaten the very economy that their predecessors sought to create, it is then that certain regulation of immigration must be made. The regulations in place now, and those that are proposed are completely inadequate to solve the problem our country is now facing.
Take for instance, one of President George W. Bush’s past suggestions. He proposed that an immigrant should be given a visa to stay and work in the U.S. for three years then, when the visa expires, the immigrant should be deported back to their native country. This proposal is not fair to immigrants, and negatively impacts our economy, not to mention leaving the United States in debt.
Today, many unemployed Americans blame the high influx of immigrants, both legal and illegal, for the loss of opportunity in the job market. Many foreigners are accustomed to making a lower wage, and will work for lower wages at longer hours, giving unfair competition. In plain economic sense: companies and businesses are more likely to rely on cheaper immigrant labor than pay more for the skilled worker. If these lower wage earners were suddenly deported at the end of their visas, the respective local economies would be left with holes in the labor force.
Plus, look at the fact that most of the money made by immigrant workers does not stay in the country. At one point in our nation’s history, we had a large population of Polish steel workers that came to this country as young men and women. They stayed in the United States and earned wages until they became of retirement age, at which point, they filed for Social Security and returned home to their native Poland and lived off of their Social Security checks in considerable comfort. This outsourcing of our nation’s capital continues to this day as hundreds of thousands of immigrants send money home to families or relatives in their own home countries.
What the Bush proposal also does not acknowledge is that when those visas expire, the country would be left with unfinished contracts, unpaid insurance and medical bills. Loans, car payments and credit card debt would go unpaid. Once again, the United States would lose money because of its own policy.
But then, let’s take a look at the policies enacted by our neighbors to the south and largest supplier of illegal immigrants: Mexico. In Mexico, they have very specific provisions in their constitution regarding immigrants and their admittance to the country. Foreigners are allowed into Mexico “according to their possibilities of contributing to national progress” (Art. 32) and must demonstrate that they “will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their sustenance” (Art. 34.). This means that if you wish to immigrate to Mexico you cannot have a criminal record; you benefit Mexican society through your career or community involvement, and will sustain yourself economically. If you do not meet these requirements, and manage to become an illegal alien in Mexico you have officially just become a felon.
Yes, that’s right. Under Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony.
A foreigner who enters the country illegally for the first time may find themselves in prison for two years. A foreigner who violates the terms of their visa or has false papers may face up to six years in prison. An illegal immigrant who is deported and attempts to reenter the country can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. Mexico, a country that annually deports more illegal aliens than the United States, is very concerned about how we handle our immigration policy. Perhaps we should be looking at their immigration laws and how foreigners are dealt with in their country before making any decisions.
In conclusion, the current policies are not solving the question of immigration in modern America and the proposed polices would simply put more holes in an economy that already resembles Swiss cheese when it comes to unemployment issues. On top of this, the very country that is pushing the most for weaker immigration laws is the same country that has some of the most totalitarian policies regarding foreigners in the western hemisphere. Despite the fact that our country is one founded upon the dreams of immigrants, it is my feeling that our nation needs to tighten its policies in order to preserve its own well being. |
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