Rights groups slam U.S.-Mexican guest worker plan

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone - Here is the latest on the discussions regarding a new

guestworker program between the U.S. and Mexico.

Don Villarejo

Rights groups slam U.S.-Mexican guest worker plan

Reuters, June 13, 2001

MEXICO CITY (REUTERS) -- Mexican and U.S. rights groups said

Wednesday a " guest worker " plan under discussion in both countries

would hurt Mexican migrants, hundreds of whom are killed every

year trying to cross the border.

The U.S. and Mexican governments are negotiating the terms of a

possible guest worker program which could allow Mexican migrants

year-by-year extensions to work in the United States.

Magallan, representing a coalition of more than 250 rights

groups on the issue of migrant workers in the United States, said the

plan would enable the U.S. government to turn all immigrants into

guest workers, meaning they would be unable to receive permanent

residence or benefits.

" Even if they have lived there for 10 or 15 years, they will lose their

rights ... with the supposed justification of avoiding more deaths on

the border, " Magallan said at a news conference in Mexico City.

Improving the plight of Mexican migrants to the United States has

assumed some urgency since 14 illegal migrants died of dehydration

last month in the blazing Arizona desert while trying to cross the

border in search of jobs.

At least two more have died this month.

The activists proposed that migrants who had recently arrived in the

United States should instead be given residence for three years with

an option to request to stay permanently.

The workers should also be registered for Social Security and pay

taxes, they said.

Mexican President Vicente Fox has said he favors making it legal for

Mexican workers to stay in the United States for limited periods

because there is strong demand for Mexican labor in the U.S.

economy.

The administration of President Bush says it is open to a guest

worker program and the idea is also backed by key members of

Congress and governors in the U.S. border states.

An estimated 5 million Mexicans work in the United States illegally,

according to rights groups.

Don Villarejo, PhD

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