Mexico to honor Sen. Kennedy on (illegal) immigrant rights

[peejay 327]

Mexico to honor Sen. Kennedy on immigrant rights

The Associated Press

Friday, July 18, 2008; 4:57 PM

MEXICO CITY -- The Mexican government is honoring U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy for his defense of immigrant rights. Mexico announced Friday it will award Kennedy the Aguila Azteca, the highest honor the government can bestow on foreign dignitaries.

An announcement on Mexico's federal registry says Kennedy will be presented with a sash in the United States.

Mexico says the Massachusetts Democrat has denounced injustices against migrants and "highlighted the importance of addressing illegal immigration by looking for an integral solution."

Kennedy co-sponsored an immigration reform bill that would boost border security but also create three-year visas for guest workers. The senator was diagnosed with brain cancer in May and has been receiving radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

2008 The Associated Press

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8071801695.html

[almaty 19]

viva la raza, baby!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The Outrage?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

The Outrage?

There, there:

[Heracles 417]

Anyone with 1/1,000,000,000,000 of a brain realizes that by sending Mexico's poor to America, in return this brings a windfall of $23,000,000,000 to Mexico. Plus the fact that Mexico no longer has to actually help their citizens themselves.

Edited July 21, 2008 by Aficionado

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As far as the US economy goes $23bn is not really a lot of money.

[Heracles 417]

As far as the US economy goes $23bn is not really a lot of money.

If the money was spent in the US it would generate tens of thousands of jobs for Americans. Something desperately needed in a country with a rising unemployment rate. That is economics 101. Illegal immigration is a net loss to a country. As is funneling billions overseas; rather than spending it in the host nation. The poor and middle class American people are the ones who are suffering from both of these.

If Kennedy cared about illegal immigrants he would prevent employers from exploiting them in the first place.

Edited July 21, 2008 by Aficionado

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As far as the US economy goes $23bn is not really a lot of money.

If the money was spent in the US it would generate tens of thousands of jobs for Americans. Something desperately needed in a country with a rising unemployment rate. That is economics 101. Illegal immigration is a net loss to a country. As is funneling billions overseas; rather than spending it in the host nation. The poor and middle class American people are the ones who are suffering from both of these.

If Kennedy cared about illegal immigrants he would prevent employers from exploiting them in the first place.

Right - but as I said the $23bn is peanuts in the overall scheme of the US economy and the wastage of the Federal government. They can find money for foreign wars and massive defense budgets but not for fixing the infrastructure.

[Heracles 417]

Right - but as I said the $23bn is peanuts in the overall scheme of the US economy and the wastage of the Federal government. They can find money for foreign wars and massive defense budgets but not for fixing the infrastructure.

100,000+ jobs is not peanuts. Especially in a country with little to no welfare. I don't know what part of Jersey you are in but there sure as hell are a lot of people there who could use one of these jobs.

$23 billion is not the total cost but the money they are sending overseas. Once you throw in all of the other costs we are talking about hundred or so billion of dollars being spent on a group who is not even a citizen or resident of a nation; While approx 20% of Americans are living in poverty.

Edited July 21, 2008 by Aficionado

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Right - but as I said the $23bn is peanuts in the overall scheme of the US economy and the wastage of the Federal government. They can find money for foreign wars and massive defense budgets but not for fixing the infrastructure.

100,000+ jobs is not peanuts. Especially in a country with little to no welfare. I don't know what part of Jersey you are in but there sure as hell are a lot of people there who could use one of these jobs.

$23 billion is not the total cost but the money they are sending overseas. Once you throw in all of the other costs we are talking about hundred or so billion of dollars being spent on a group who is not even a citizen or resident of a nation; While approx 20% of Americans are living in poverty.

I get that - but you fixated on the $23bn as some sort of magic figure. USCs spend more than that on overseas holidays.

[Heracles 417]

I get that - but you fixated on the $23bn as some sort of magic figure. USCs spend more than that on overseas holidays.

That is a figure.

American politicians need to look out for Americans first. That includes not getting involved in conflicts overseas.

At a time when hundreds of thousand of Americas are losing their homes, life savings, jobs etc the federal government needs to get its act together and take the necessary steps to protect the American people. Americans need work. The quickest way to fix this is by ensuring only Americans or legal immigrants are filling positions. This is a no brainer abroad but people here seem to get caught up in ####### like you are against immigrants or brown people. Which is mostly certainly not the case and ironically shifty scaremongering in itself.

Edited July 21, 2008 by Aficionado

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Illegal immigrants are not the source of the current economic problems.

[LaGreenEyes 0]

Right - but as I said the $23bn is peanuts in the overall scheme of the US economy and the wastage of the Federal government. They can find money for foreign wars and massive defense budgets but not for fixing the infrastructure.

100,000+ jobs is not peanuts. Especially in a country with little to no welfare. I don't know what part of Jersey you are in but there sure as hell are a lot of people there who could use one of these jobs.

$23 billion is not the total cost but the money they are sending overseas. Once you throw in all of the other costs we are talking about hundred or so billion of dollars being spent on a group who is not even a citizen or resident of a nation; While approx 20% of Americans are living in poverty.

The illegal residents that use false social security numbers, etc actually pay more in income/FICA/Medicare taxes than they get in public benefits or assistance in return. Most don't file for tax refunds nor will they receive Social Security. That probably makes it all a wash or the USA comes out ahead.

The USA needs to fix the fact that so many jobs are farmed out overseas i.e. call centers in India, Philippines, Caribbean and also the US government permits H1-B visas for people coming in and do take many jobs from Americans that are more than capable. They farm out so many of the "desirable" jobs. Read the message boards on DICE.com a tech jobs site and you'll see what I mean by that.

The illegal residents mostly work in construction, agriculture, low level hospitality jobs. In some industries yes I do believe the wages are driven down by that, depending on the region. Is it right? That's debateable. Higher Wages would drive prices up in many daily-use goods and services (Homebuilding, food, clothing,) and the industries that are not the few that are filled by illegals would most likely not raise THEIR wages. (Secretarial, skilled labor, lower level managers, call centers, etc ) With much thanks to Mr Bush and the trillion dollar war, and with the price of oil causing the raise in prices already and causing the economy to be in the toilet, this country does not need an immigration reform decision that will cause even more of this kind of economic turmoil. If the US could find a way to let the undocumented workers have some kind of document/status/whatever...that would include their families, (spouses and children) then there would be less money being sent to Mexico and that money would be spent here.

The Mexican government is rightfully recognizing Senator Kennedy for his humanitarian stance on the subject. Legal or not these people are human beings and deserve to be treated as such.

[Mononoke28 137]

Diana

[Peikko 1,575]

Fixating on one problem area as the 'solution' to all the ills of the US is rather delusional - particularly as no one knows the extent of the 'net loss/gain' that the illegal aliens contribute to the economy. Aside from that, who Mexico does and doesn't choose to honour, I don't think it necessarily computes that who Mexico honours, the US should hold in contempt.

Just by the by, the I-9 when used properly will prevent legitimate businesses from employing illegal aliens except when they produce accurate forgeries.