Mexico Assails U.S. Pols On Immigration

President Felipe Calderon Says Candidates Are Using Migrants As "Symbolic Hostages"

(AP)  President Felipe Calderon decried Wednesday what he called "the growing harassment" of Mexicans in the United States and said his government will work to counter it by funding a media campaign to show migrant success stories.

Mexican officials have expressed concern over a recent wave of immigration raids and a U.S. political climate perceived as anti-migrant. Calderon said U.S. presidential candidates were using migrants as "symbolic hostages" on the immigration issue.

"I am especially worried about the growing harassment and frank persecution of Mexicans in the United States in recent days," Calderon said at a meeting of the Mexican government's migrant assistance agency.

He called on leading U.S. presidential candidates to "stop holding Mexicans in their country as symbolic hostages in their speeches and (campaign) strategies." He was apparently referring to the hard line some candidates have taken on the immigration issue, and other candidates' unwillingness to take a clear stance in the debate.

To bolster the image of migrants in the U.S., the Mexican government will launch "direct media campaigns aimed at showing migrant success stories and raise awareness of the many contributions" migrants make to U.S. society, he said.

Calderon noted 6 million of the 11 million Mexican migrants in the United States are undocumented, and endorsed the creation of what he called the League Against Discrimination Against Mexicans in the United States.

Pablo Alonso Flores, a member of advisory council of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad, described the new anti-discrimination league as a group "run by Mexican-Americans, aimed mainly at defending our rights peacefully and respectfully, while not allowing media attacks on the integrity, roots and customs of Mexicans."

Calderon also endorsed a project to expand shelters for deported migrants in Mexican border cities.

Several recent high-profile immigration enforcement raids, and political setbacks like Wednesday's decision by New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer to abandon a plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, have put immigrant activists in a grim mood.

Also Wednesday, Mexico City officials announced a program to offer city residents living in the United States low fees for sending money home.

As part of the program, the estimated 600,000 Mexico City migrants will also receive free life insurance policies. If they die, the policy will enable their relatives in Mexico to repatriate their remains free of charge.

[standlee5]

To bolster the image of migrants in the U.S., the Mexican government will launch "direct media campaigns aimed at showing migrant success stories and raise awareness of the many contributions" migrants make to U.S. society, he said.

That ought to do it. We''ll forget all about the hospital emergency rooms that have shut down. And how we''ve all about gone broke the past 10 years paying for our own medical costs when illegals only need show up and get treated free of charge. Not to mention how our schools have been swamped with nonenglish speaking kids, wages diluted, crime, drugs......

[ontheleft]

Is this story for real?

[bhappy2-2]

HEY CBS-
Why is there a comment section for this story:
Mexico Assails U.S. Pols On Immigration
If YOU aren''t going to SHOW the comments? Are you afraid the citizens of America might PISSOFF the president of mexico by telling him he can take his 20 million ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS home? Are you concerned we, the citizens of America, might tell him if his CRIMINALS don''t want to be harassed they should SELF DEPORT? Why don''t you show the comment about these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS and their sorry excuse for a president? What makes him think he can dictate ANYTHING to OUR COUNTRY when his country is so bad HIS people are leaving in droves?

[bhappy2-2]

HEY CBS-
Why is there a comment section for this story:
Mexico Assails U.S. Pols On Immigration
If YOU aren''t going to SHOW the comments? Are you afraid the citizens of America might PISSOFF the president of mexico by telling him he can take his 20 million ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS home? Are you concerned we, the citizens of America, might tell him if his CRIMINALS don''t want to be harassed they should SELF DEPORT? Why don''t you show the comment about these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS and their sorry excuse for a president? What makes him think he can dictate ANYTHING to OUR COUNTRY when his country is so bad HIS people are leaving in droves?

[ioweign]

Presidente Felipe Calderon - pregunte no lo que pueden hacer los Estados Unidos para el mexicano - pero lo que usted puede hacer para Mixico.

[bhappy2-2]

Mexican officials have expressed concern over a recent wave of immigration raids and a U.S. political climate perceived as anti-migrant.

It isn''t anti-immigrant enough, these sorry ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS are still here. Apparently we need to have MORE RAIDS.

"I am especially worried about the growing harassment and frank persecution of Mexicans in the United States

Then take your ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS back to YOUR COUNTRY and GET THESE ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS out of OUR COUNTRY.

the Mexican government will launch "direct media campaigns aimed at showing migrant success stories

The ONLY success stories we are interested in are those reporting these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS have successfully LEFT OUR COUNTRY.

"run by Mexican-Americans, aimed mainly at defending our rights peacefully and respectfully, while not allowing media attacks on the integrity, roots and customs of Mexicans."

WHAT RIGHTS? These criminals are ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS! They HAVE NO RIGHTS!

[bennyblack1]

Frankly, if El Presidente decides to run that campaign, he''s side stepping the issue. I agree that there are thousands of success stories. However, the city I live in is one of those cities that harbors illegal aliens. They take American jobs, undercut the wage rate, refuse to speak English, and collect countless millions of dollars of welfare each year. El Presidente would be better of if he TOOK CARE OF HIS OWN PEOPLE in his OWN country, and they wouldn''t NEED to become illegal immigrants waging a socio-economic war on the US. This is a classic case of projecting blame on another party for his OWN mistakes.

[bennyblack1]

Frankly, if El Presidente decides to run that campaign, he''s side stepping the issue. I agree that there are thousands of success stories. However, the city I live in is one of those cities that harbors illegal aliens. They take American jobs, undercut the wage rate, refuse to speak English, and collect countless millions of dollars of welfare each year. El Presidente would be better of if he TOOK CARE OF HIS OWN PEOPLE in his OWN country, and they wouldn''t NEED to become illegal immigrants waging a socio-economic war on the US. This is a classic case of projecting blame on another party for his OWN mistakes.

[prinzowhales]

Calderon! You like Bush are a thief! You both steal elections! I look forward to the day when both America and Mexico are free of vile, treacherous creatures like YOU and Bush!

[bhappy2-2]

President Felipe Calderon, TAKE YOUR ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS HOME! We, the Citizens of The United States of America, DO NOT WANT YOUR ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS.

"I am especially worried about the growing harassment and frank persecution of Mexicans in the United States in recent days"

Well, if they were where they belong THAT would not be an issue, would it? These ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS are not needed here, they are not wanted here and we would LOVE to see them GONE.

To bolster the image of migrants in the U.S., the Mexican government will launch "direct media campaigns aimed at showing migrant success stories"

The only success stories we are interested in is the successful deportation of these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS.