Speech #990183150

Yet. despite these ties. we spend too little time cultivating this relationship. Particularly when one considers that Mexico is our third largest trading partner. and that we are Mexicos largest trading partner. While there are many facets to our complex relationship with Mexico. my primary concern is with United States immigration policy and its impact on that nation. The money that Mexican nationals earn working in the States. which they send back to their families. is a primary source of income for Mexico. To cut this source off. to unilaterally block the immigration safety valve. would be crippling to the Mexican economy. This. in turn. would severly impinge on United StatesMexican relations. I am not advocating open borders or a lax immigration policy. Control of our borders is a reflection of our national sovereignty. but how we control our borders is an indication of national policy and priorities. as well as our collective values. We must. therefore. work more closely with Mexico as we decide our immigration policy. taking into account the special relationship our two nations have. We should not do so because Mexico is having a difficult time economically or because we dont want to offend the Mexican Government and peoplealthough these are two valid reasons as to why we should consult them. No. we should do so because it is in our own interest. An unstable Mexico would have farreaching political and economic consequences for the United States. The White House has remarked on the projected increase of refugees from Latin America if Congress doesnt toe the mark on their Central American policy. This increase in Latin American immigrants is already occurring as a result of our present policy toward the region. but more importantly. as a result of the economic slump that has devastated Central America and Mexico. If we do not do something to alleviate the failing economies of these nations. we will never be able to humanely control our borders with or without a new immigration law. As long as there is poverty south of our border. we will have an immigration problem. That is not to say that we should concentrate our efforts solely on development programs in Mexico and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. We must also develop a just and realistic policy that will give us tighter control over our borders. Such a policy. however. cannot ignore the foreign policy aspect of our Nations immigration problems. especially as it affects United StatesMexican affairs.