Guatemalan president challenges Bush on immigration policy what say you ?
Bush's meetings in Guatemala City with President Oscar Berger, a conservative leader who has become a strong U.S. ally, were dominated by trade and the difficult issue of immigration policy.
Bush pleased Guatemalans by promising to push hard, and quickly, for changes that would include a temporary-worker program for illegal workers in the United States.
He said he thinks it is possible to wrest legislation out of the U.S. Congress, still deeply divided over the issue, by August.
But he gave no ground in the face of questions over deportations of illegal workers, such as a raid in Massachusetts last week.
Federal authorities detained over 300 employees of a leather goods maker -- most from Guatemala and El Salvador -- for possible deportation as illegal aliens. The raid left dozens of young children stranded at schools and with baby sitters. (Agency seeks parents release)
"The United States will enforce our law," Bush said. "It's against the law to hire somebody who's in our country illegally."
Responded Berger: "The Guatemalan people would have preferred a more clear and positive response -- no more deportations."
Berger did say he "was very pleased" that Bush sees it as a problem not just for migrants and their home countries, but Americans as well.
Fighting poverty, drugs
Many who have protested Bush's visit don't agree with U.S. immigration policy and believe current trade agreements between the countries have kept Guatemalans from rising out of poverty.
The distribution of income throughout Guatemala is lopsided with the richest 20 percent receiving two-thirds of all income. More than 7 million Guatemalans live in extreme poverty.
However, one issue where the leaders found common ground was the battle against drug trafficking.
Guatemala wants technical assistance, such as helicopters, radar and other equipment, for the fight.
Bush praised Berger's commitment, and said he wants the U.S. to work with Mexico and other Central American countries on a regional partnership to halt drug trafficking and gangs.
He plans to discuss it Tuesday with Mexican President Felipe Calderon on his last stop of a five-nation tour.
Priests: We will clean air of Bush 'bad spirits'
Bush was treated to a welcoming ceremony in the courtyard of Guatemala's National Palace, where the 1996 peace accords were signed which ended a 36-year civil war in which the United States played a sometimes-checkered role.
Bush placed a white rose on the bronze memorial.
About 500 people marched toward the centrally located palace in Guatemala City to protest his visit, some carrying signs with anti-Bush messages and others burning an effigy of the president.
It was a scene similar to his visit Sunday to Colombia. (Watch violent clashes in Colombia's capital )
The Guatemala demonstration was mostly peaceful, but more than 5,000 police and soldiers surrounded the national palace to prevent it from getting too close to the president.
Before returning by helicopter to Guatemala City, the Bushes also took in Mayan ruins in the village of Iximche. (Full story)
Angry protesters shouted "No more blood for oil," and Mayan priests said they will purify the sacred archaeological site to rid it of "bad spirits" after Bush leaves.
Answer:
Tuesday, May 2, 2006Mexican Immigration Laws I just cannot believe that illegal people even think they have rights to
oppose our government, to rally against us, or to demonstrate in public
their outcry for their needed justice. This just is not done, because
they are not citizens here. Now why isn't someone arresting
them right there on the spot as the illegals gather illegally? They
have made themselves known, as well as those who have aided them.
***SEE MEXICO'S LAWS BELOW AND YOU WILL SEE WHY I AM SO INDIGNANT WITH MY COMMENTS***
Mexico's Immigration By-Laws that regulate your admission and departure
from Mexico:
http://www.todossantos.cc/meximmig.html...
Mexico's General Law of Population sets out the rights and obligations
of foreigners, as well as the different statuses associated with
foreign immigration:
http://www.mexperience.com/liveandwork/i...
***MEXICAN IMMIGRATION LAW***
Should we try MEXICO'S IMMIGRATION LAW?
http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/reada...
Mexico has a radical idea for a rational immigration policy that most
Americans would love.
...Mexico, which annually deports more illegal aliens than the United
States does, has much to teach us about how to handle immigration;
under Mexican law, it is a felony to be an illegal alien. As the
Supreme Court and politicians seek to bring U.S. law in line with
foreign legal norms, it's noteworthy that no one has argued that the
United States look at what Mexico might teach us about how to solve our
illegal-immigration problem. Mexico has a single, streamlined law,
seeking to ensure that foreign visitors and immigrants are: _ In the
country legally. _ Have the means to sustain themselves economically. _
Not destined to be burdens on society. _ Of economic and social benefit
to society. _ Of good character, with no criminal record. The law also
seeks to ensure that: _ Immigration authorities have a record of each
foreign visitor. _ Foreign visitors do not violate their visa status. _
Foreign visitors are banned from interfering in the country's internal
politics. _ Foreign visitors who enter under false pretenses are
imprisoned or deported. _ Foreign visitors violating terms of their
entry are imprisoned or deported. _ Anyone who aids in illegal
immigration is imprisoned. Who could disagree with such a law? The
Mexican constitution strictly defines the rights of citizens, and the
denial of many rights to non-citizens. The General Law on Population,
spelling out the country's immigration policy, should cause Americans
to ask: Why is our southern neighbor pushing us to water down our
immigration laws and policies when its own immigration restrictions are
the toughest on the continent? If a felony is a crime punishable by more
than a year in prison, Mexican law makes it a felony to be an illegal
alien in Mexico. Yet if the United States adopted such a law, Mexico
would no doubt denounce it as a manifestation of American bigotry.
Mexico's main immigration law welcomes only foreigners deemed useful to
Mexican society: _ Foreigners are admitted into Mexico "according to
their possibilities of contributing to national progress." (Article 32)
_ Immigration officials must "ensure (that) immigrants will be useful
elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for
their sustenance" and that of their dependents. (Article 34) _
Foreigners may be barred from the country if their presence has upset
"the equilibrium of the national demographics," if they are deemed
detrimental to "economic or national interests," if they are not good
citizens in their own country, if they have broken Mexican laws, or if
"they are not found to be physically or mentally healthy." (Article 37)
_ The secretary of governance may "suspend or prohibit the admission of
foreigners when he determines it to be in the national interest."
(Article 38) Mexican authorities keep track of every person in the
country: _ Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with
federal immigration authorities upon request: i.e., help in the arrest
of illegal immigrants. (Article 73) _ A National Population Registry
tracks every "individual who comprises (sic) the population of the
country," verifying each individual's identity. (Articles 85 and 86) _
A national Catalogue of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and
immigrants (Article 87), assigning each a tracking number. (Article 91)
Foreigners with fake papers or who enter the country under false
pretenses may be imprisoned: _ Foreigners with fake immigration papers
may be fined or imprisoned. (Article 116) _ Foreigners who sign
government documents "with a signature that is false or different from
that which he normally uses" are subject to fine and imprisonment.
(Article 116) Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined,
deported, and/or imprisoned as felons: _ Foreigners who fail to obey a
deportation order are to be punished. (Article 117) _ Deported
foreigners who try to re-enter Mexico without authorization can be
imprisoned for up to 10 years. (Article 118) _ Foreigners who violate
terms of their visa may be sentenced for up to six years in prison.
(Articles 119, 120, and 121) Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of
their visa (as by working without a permit) can also be imprisoned.
Under Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony. The General Law on
Population says: _ "A penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine
of 300 to 5,000 pesos will be imposed on the foreigner who enters the
country illegally." (Article 123) _ Foreigners with immigration
problems may be deported, rather than imprisoned. (Article 125) _
Foreigners who "(make attempts) against national sovereignty or
security" will be deported. (Article 126) Mexicans who help illegal
aliens enter the country are considered criminals: _ A Mexican who
marries a foreigner with the sole objective of helping the foreigner
live in the country is subject to up to five years in prison. (Article
127) _ Shipping and airline companies that bring undocumented
foreigners into Mexico will be fined. (Article 132)
All of the above runs counter to what Mexican leaders are demanding
of the United States. The stark contrast between Mexico's immigration practices and its American-immigration preachings reveals the Mexican government's agenda: to have a one-way immigration relationship with the United States. Let's call Mexico's bluff on its interference in U.S.
immigration policy.
Let us propose, just to make a point, that North
American Free Trade Agreement member nations standardize their
immigration laws by using Mexico's law as a model.
(J. Michael Waller is a professor of international communication at the
Institute of World Politics in Washington.)
1 Comment
Fair and consistant imagrationIt would only be fair and understanding to adopt Mexico's policy on imigration. Keeping things similar would make it easier for everyone to know and understand the laws and rules.Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 02:52 PM
Bush defending enforcement?
Sorry, it may be a while before I can answer the rest, I'm laughing too hard...
I heard on the radio that the Guatemalan President gave Bush an earful about how displeased he was that the US was deporting illegal Guatemalans in the US. Bush basically said "that is the decision of Congress, not mine". A true lame duck.
The immigration information post by website user , MyTend.com not guarantee correctness