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 News from Around the Americas | April 2007 
Diplomat Says Reform Requires Jobs in Mexico
 Jeorge Zarazua - San Antonio Express-News
| | Arturo Sarukhán, Mexico's new ambassador to the United States |
Immigration reform in this country will not succeed if Mexico doesn't do its part and create more jobs to keep its citizens from leaving, said Arturo Sarukhán, Mexico's new ambassador to the United States.
"Unless Mexico puts its house in order, the best immigration reform will not be possible," Sarukhán told people attending a luncheon Tuesday at the San Antonio Country Club. The local World Affairs Council hosted the luncheon in conjunction with the Council of American Ambassadors.
The same message was repeated later during a panel session at Trinity University's Ruth Taylor Recital Hall in what was Sarukhán's first official trip outside Washington as ambassador. He said he chose to visit San Antonio because of its critical role in the bilateral relationship of both countries.
The ambassador said that even if the United States would pass immigration reform, that alone wouldn't keep 400,000 Mexicans from crossing the border each year.
"We have to deal with two issues at the same time," he said, referring to Mexico's abundant work force and the United States' demand for cheap labor.
He said he was guardedly optimistic that Congress would pass an immigration reform bill this year, saying the one that U.S. Reps. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., are sponsoring is a "serious bipartisan effort" that would be a remedy for several problems.
"I think at this point, it is as good as it gets," Sarukhán said.
He said if it isn't passed before Labor Day, immigration reform would be postponed until January 2009. He also cautioned that no matter what kind of reform passes, it probably won't appease everyone.
"Nobody is going to be 100 percent happy," he said. "This isn't a win-win."
Sarukhán is a career diplomat, having served as consul general of Mexico in New York under former Mexican President Vicente Fox's administration.
Sarukhán took a leave of absence from the Mexican foreign service to serve as the campaign coordinator for international affairs and international spokesman for then-presidential candidate Felipe Calderón.
Sarukhán then served on the president-elect's transition team as coordinator for international affairs after Calderón was elected president.
jzarazua@express-news.net |
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