So why is the initiative coming out of the White House framed only towards Mexican illegals?
To a large extent, this move seems to be one of the few policy initiatives of the Bush administration based on a long-term strategy. You see, providing legalization to the largest Latino community will not only increase political support for his present administration and his probable run for a second term among the Latino
community will not only increase political support for his present administration and his probable run for a second term among the Latino community, but will be sure to change future trends of political support. Legalization drawn-up by the republican administration will not only attract new political support (future U.S. citizens) but will also attract the already legal Mexican-American community that plays the leading role in shaping political demands and policy stands within the overall Latin American community (leading role based on higher levels of political/economic influence as well as organizational development; with the exception of the Cuban community in Miami). This can alter the contemporary trend of Latinos supporting the democratic party during a time of increasing presence, influence and power by the Latino community in the US, which can ultimately benefit the Republican party in future electoral battles (Can you imagine a time in which Latinos will vote predominantly republican? I am pretty sure the Bush Administration can and are!!!)
However, there is also an important international element behind this initiative. To give credit where credit is due, the talk for a legalization process only for Mexican illegal immigrants is partly the outcome of effective lobbying by the administration of Mexican President Vicente Fox (or concession from Mexico's commitment to increase energy supply to the US?). He has made clear efforts to maintain the issue on the forefront of the agenda. Numerous meetings by high level Mexican officials and their counterparts in the United States in addition to Vicente Fox's proposed plan to increase and improve economic ties (based on a open-door policy incrementing labor flexibility) have maintain the issues of immigration and immigrant communities on the forefront.
In addition, President Fox has taken important steps to address the interests of the Mexican immigrant community. Take for example his rapid action against the consul of San Jose, who was immediately replaced after evidence of his ineptitude. In addition, he appointed an envoy to the Mexican consulate in Los Angeles in charge of attending to the complaints of abuse and discrimination by Mexican citizens by the hands of US authorities (specifically relating to the Rampart police scandal).
A legalization initiative is an important issue to the Latin American community in general and it is important to remember several things in considering this issue: 1) A legalization plan targeted only to the Mexican illegal community can have detrimental economic and social impact on the Central and South American illegal community and thus exacerbate tension between the Mexican and other Latino communities; 2) Leading immigrant organizations need to demand a universal amnesty (obviously with a well design set of requirements that reward people that have been here longer and have demonstrated good work ethics and good civic values- something similar to the 1986 General Amnesty procedures); 3) Governments from Central and South America, preferably acting as a combined group in order to increase their leverage, need to put pressure on the US to expand the program |
