Mexico Facing Anti-Immigration

The year 2011 will be a difficult one for Mexicans in the United States. The Republican majority in the Congress plans to approve various measures to inhibit the arrival of new undocumented immigrants and promote the expulsion of those who have already made a life in the United States. What will the Mexican government do? A decade of fruitless negotiations on immigration calls for a rethinking of what has been done since Sept. 11, 2001.

The reality that Mexico has faced is that not even the will of the president of the United States is sufficient to overcome the taboo of “amnesty.” For a large part of United States society and its politicians, to legalize millions of undocumented immigrants is to cover up the fact that they “violated the law.”

At the beginning of his six-year term, Vicente Fox had what seemed to be an excellent relationship with former President George W. Bush. Unfortunately, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, put a stop to the possibility for reform. When Bush presented his proposal for integral reform at the end of his second term, it was too late. He lacked the political clout to convince even his own party.

Barack Obama also raised some hope. As a member of the American liberal sector and a racial minority and proponent of social causes, it seemed to be a feasible opportunity. In his campaign, he promised immigration reform in his first year of presidency.

However, in the middle of the worst economic crisis in decades and worn down after a difficult health care reform, Obama could not fulfill his promise. Now with Congress in the hands of the conservatives, the possibility of change is minimal.

In this context, can the Mexican government do anything? It is certain that to intervene in the domestic matters of a country — although it involves foreign citizens — is always complicated, especially with an asymmetry of power as large as that which exists between Mexico and the United States. Even so, there are openings where the Mexican government could be influential. To criticize neighbors and make demands of politicians can bear fruit within Mexico, but beyond the border is different.

It takes a network of lobbying in the United States. The Mexican government should lead a force of persuasion within the United States Congress with each legislator in order to convince them that the cost of leaving millions of immigrants in the shadows is far greater than the benefit.

The network of Mexican consulates covers the entire United States. Their leaders should receive the mandate to approach local media, study centers, businessmen and politicians and become more than just agents of protection for their countrymen.

Mexico should complain when it is required, but in order to influence the internal politics of its neighbor, more convincing power is necessary.