Mexico
The Republic of Mexico is considering changes to its federal law that would increase penalties for "trafficking" in human beings. At issue are those criminals, known as polleros, who smuggle immigrants abroad principally across the border into the United States. It is estimated that between January and June 1996 nearly 600 people were making a living as polleros. The punishment for such illegal activities would be increased to 6-12 years in prison and a fine of 22,000 pesos. Currently the punishment is 4 years imprisonment. Included in the proposed changes are more serious penalties for public officials who participate in smuggling migrants.
Another initiative was introduced in Mexico's Congress to oversee and control foreign workers employed throughout the country. Should the initiative be approved, foreign workers would be required to register in the National Registry of Foreigners which would permit Mexican authorities to track where they are and what activities they are involved in. The intention is to assure that these people are actually employed where they say they are and are not involving themselves in Mexico's internal political affairs in places like Chiapas and Puebla.
United States
The much debated new U.S. immigration reform law was passed by the U.S. Senate and signed by President Clinton in October without some of the more bitterly fought provisions proposed by Republican lawmakers. The law which was attached to a large government spending bill doubles the number of Border Patrol agents to 10,000, authorizes hiring of nearly 1,000 immigration inspectors, criminalizes the act of fleeing from a U.S. Customs checkpoint now punishable by 5 years in prison, increases the punishment for falsifying documents and smuggling illegal immigrants into the country, and provides funding for more border fences, helicopters and other equipment for use along the border, as well as funds for 2,700 detention cells. The overall price tag was $3.1 billion, $10 million more than President Clinton requested.
Clinton had threatened to veto the spending bill, bringing the federal government to another halt, unless some of the provisions in the immigration law dealing with documented immigrants were softened or removed. At issue was a provision that would have limited the benefits available to documented immigrants who have already had benefits cut under the Welfare Reform Act passed in August. The Welfare Reform Law restricts documented immigrants from receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, and most other federal benefits and leaves the decision up to states as to whether to grant Medicaid. A provision prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving federal aid for the poor except emergency medical care was included in the final version of the Immigration Reform bill. Earlier in the debate over Immigration Reform a measure that would have barred the children of illegal immigrants from attending public schools was also dropped from the legislation, after President Clinton threatened to veto the bill if the provision was included.
Mexico has reacted to the legislation with "serious concern" according to reports in El Norte. Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister, Jose Angel Gurria brought up the issue to U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher during a debate before the General Assembly of the United Nations. Stating that Mexico did not wish to promote illegal activities, Gurria added that they were concerned about the impact the legislation will have on human rights, the rights of laborers and attitudes towards legal immigrants in the United States.
At a Forum on Political Migration in Mexico, the following statistics were released:
Sources: El Norte. Diario de Juarez, El Paso Times
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