Mexicans illegal Immigration in the US

This exodus is nothing new to Californians who long have battled the social problems caused by mass waves of immigration, such as an overburdening of the infrastructure (i.e., health care system, public education, law enforcement, etc.). However, one of the biggest reasons Mexicans immigrate to America is to find a job. Many of the immigrants who used to arrive in California are now spreading to many other parts of the country and becoming a vital sector of the American economy, albeit at the low-end wage scale (all the more reason why they have such value). As one Mexican immigrant relates, after immigrating to Alaska and finding a good job, "In California the bosses know they can pay you less, because there are 20 people from Mexico looking for the same job. [I] now make $18 an hour as a school custodian, with health benefits and paid vacation. Here, if you're willing to work, people treat you fairly," (McDonnell 3). Other than finding work, there are many more reasons why people immigrate from Mexico to America.

For one, Mexico has a high rate of corruption and it motivates people to come here in search of a better lifestyle, a lifestyle they believe democracy and capitalism will afford them. Many people are also motivated to immigrate by the close proximity and relatively short distance they must travel to America. In addition, there are many Spanish language television and radio programs available in the US and many publications. Further, they can still com Many people are also concerned that the new immigration bill unfairly singles out certain groups of immigrants, like Mexicans. For example, there are usually less harsh punishments for illegal immigrants, like Europeans who have overstayed their visa length. The new legislation imposes fines for illegal immigrants, a probation period before they are eligible to be readmitted to the country and it also prevents them from having fair access to the justice system concerning their deportation.

The new legislation that went into effect on April 1, 1997 included many provisions that seem oriented towards Mexicans, including the following, "Anyone attempting to enter the US at an unauthorized crossing will have to pay a fine of between $50 and $250 before being deported and those who have been in the country illegally for more than 180 days will be considered inadmissible for three years. It eliminates the right to a deportation trial for illegal immigrants, orders the detention of all the foreign criminals once their prison sentences have been served and makes it easier to expel immigrants, reducing their right to a legal hearing," (Cevallos 1). The bill imposes barriers to entry as well, like the triple fencing, extra border patrols and host family income requirement already mentioned. Many have spoken out against the legislation because they feel it is a direct attempt to deny "Mexican" immigrants the same rights as other types of immigrants.

Further, many people believe we are shooting ourselves in the foot as a nation by not allowing many people who have made great contributions to this country to remain in it. Further, there are those who feel it is biased out of prejudice and because of fears of social unrest and chaos, like happened to many areas in California from their particularly heavy Mexican immigration, "It really is the start of significant anti-immigration laws? The industrial sector saw a growth of 9.3 percent in 1997, and this dragged some other sectors along; however, most of the productive system, especially agriculture, remained at levels below those registered before the crisis in 1994. There was a slight fall in unemployment, but salaries are still 20 percent down from 1994 levels. Mexican income currently stands at a level a thousand percent lower than that of the United States and 73.4 percent lower than Mexico 11 years ago (Cevallos). More recently, it was noted that Mexico's real GDP did not return to its predevaluation level until mid1997, and even then, real average wages were 20 percent below their 1994 level. Continued growth of more than 5 percent this year and next has been predicted ("Mexico"). The effect of globalization and multinational corporations is seen today across Latin America, and the change has been having a beneficial effect in Mexico. Tijuana today is the television production capital of the world because of this trend. Mexican President Zedillo recently awarded two Mexican multinational corporations for their efforts.

Nhumo produces raw materials for the tire industry and belongs to Grupo Desc, which is one of Mexico's most successful conglomerates and most aggressive exporters. Cementos de Oriente is a subsidiary of Cemex, a cement maker whose reach now exten "Mexico." The Economist (February 21, 1998). exported more than 120,000 vehicles to the U.S. market and other destinations in 1997. The company was also faced with the possibility of having to shut down the Ramos Arizpe plant entirely if the strike were not resolved quickly, and at the time only maintenance workers and other nonassembly personnel were working at the Ramos Arizpe plant, which also exports a large percentage of its production to the U.S. market. Economists said they expected a sharp reduction in exports from the Silao and Ramos Arizpe plants to widen Mexico's trade deficit during June and July 1998. Economists projected Mexico's trade deficit at $40 million during June, partly as a result of the GM strike, and believed the deficit could widen further to $200 million in July if the strike continued (Latin America DataBase). Multinationals therefore have both a positive and a negative effect. Overall, they have contributed to the economic growth in Mexico, and Mexican multinationals in particular are serving Mexican interests well.

Latin America Database. "Strike at General Motors Plants in Michigan Forces Curtailment of Operations at Coahuila and Guanajuato Plants." SourceMex: Economic News & Analysis on Mexico (July 15, 1998). Mexico, also declined during the second quarter of this 1998. The widening trade balance is one reason for concern, but some analysts said that the greatest impact of the GM strike might be seen in statistics for industrial production. The automotive sector is projected to grow by only 18 or 19 percent in the second quarter of this year, which would be a decline of more than 10 percentage points from a growth rate of more than 31 percent over the same period in 1997. GM published a report early in July saying that production in Mexico, the United States, and Canada during June totaled only 237,000 units, or roughly half the number produced in June 1997.

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