Issues Facing MexicoIssues Facing Mexico

ImmigrationDrugs

Weapons/Violence

ImmigrationDrugs

Weapons/Violence

ImmigrationImmigration◊ About 12 million immigrants are living

undocumented in the United States (not all are from Mexico).

◊ Many immigration laws are state by state.◊ Example: Arizona on Friday 4/23/10 signed a

bill that requires the police in AZ to determine whether a person is in the US legally.

◊ Immigrants are required to carry with them at all times their registration documentation.

◊ About 12 million immigrants are living undocumented in the United States (not all are from Mexico).

◊ Many immigration laws are state by state.◊ Example: Arizona on Friday 4/23/10 signed a

bill that requires the police in AZ to determine whether a person is in the US legally.

◊ Immigrants are required to carry with them at all times their registration documentation.

ImmigrationImmigration◊ Guest Worker Program: Helps undocumented

immigrants work toward citizenship. Former President Bush put this into action.

◊ Recently, with the economic crises, President Obama has not put this issue on the fore front and could not promise a bill by the end of the 2009.

◊ He is taking the enforcement first approach similar to former President Bush.

◊ President Obama feels that voters want enforced borders before a Federal law is put in place.

◊ Guest Worker Program: Helps undocumented immigrants work toward citizenship. Former President Bush put this into action.

◊ Recently, with the economic crises, President Obama has not put this issue on the fore front and could not promise a bill by the end of the 2009.

◊ He is taking the enforcement first approach similar to former President Bush.

◊ President Obama feels that voters want enforced borders before a Federal law is put in place.

ImmigrationImmigration

◊ President Obama:◊ "Government has a responsibility to enforce

the law and secure our borders and set clear rules and priorities for future immigration. And under Secretary Napolitano's leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, that's exactly what we're doing. We've strengthened security at our borders, ports and airports and we will continue to do so, because America's borders must be secure.”

◊ President Obama:◊ "Government has a responsibility to enforce

the law and secure our borders and set clear rules and priorities for future immigration. And under Secretary Napolitano's leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, that's exactly what we're doing. We've strengthened security at our borders, ports and airports and we will continue to do so, because America's borders must be secure.”

ImmigrationImmigration◊ Immigrant: Foreign born individual

who has been admitted to live here permanently.

◊ How to get admitted:• Family Sponsored• Employment• Annual Lottery

◊ Immigrant: Foreign born individual who has been admitted to live here permanently.

◊ How to get admitted:• Family Sponsored• Employment• Annual Lottery

ImmigrationImmigration◊ Refugee: A person outside the

U.S. who seeks protection out of fear of persecution in their homeland.• Can be granted asylum • Refugees and asylee’s can be granted

permanent residency after one year.

◊ Refugee: A person outside the U.S. who seeks protection out of fear of persecution in their homeland.• Can be granted asylum • Refugees and asylee’s can be granted

permanent residency after one year.

ImmigrationImmigration

◊ Undocumented Immigrant: Present in the United States with out permission of the U.S. Government

◊ Either entered by not being checked by a border worker or entered legally and then stayed beyond Visa date.

◊ Undocumented Immigrant: Present in the United States with out permission of the U.S. Government

◊ Either entered by not being checked by a border worker or entered legally and then stayed beyond Visa date.

ImmigrationImmigration◊ Non-immigrant: Permitted to enter

for a certain time – Basically a travel document• Students• Tourists• Temporary Workers• Business Executives• Artists• Diplomat• Entertainers and Reporters

◊ Non-immigrant: Permitted to enter for a certain time – Basically a travel document• Students• Tourists• Temporary Workers• Business Executives• Artists• Diplomat• Entertainers and Reporters

Immigrant Immigrant

◊ Naturalized Citizen: • Apply for natural status by living in the

U.S. for 5 years without committing crimes• Showed that you paid taxes• Are of good moral character• Have knowledge of the U.S. Gov’t and

History• The ability to understand, speak and write

English

◊ Naturalized Citizen: • Apply for natural status by living in the

U.S. for 5 years without committing crimes• Showed that you paid taxes• Are of good moral character• Have knowledge of the U.S. Gov’t and

History• The ability to understand, speak and write

English

Immigration FactsImmigration Facts

◊ Immigrants boost the economy• They are part of the labor force, raise GDP

◊ Immigrants don’t raise crime rates• Research to prove they don’t raise the

crime rates, commit fewer crimes than Americans

◊ Most come to the U.S. by legal means• 2004: 946, 142 legally• 500,00 illegally

◊ Immigrants boost the economy• They are part of the labor force, raise GDP

◊ Immigrants don’t raise crime rates• Research to prove they don’t raise the

crime rates, commit fewer crimes than Americans

◊ Most come to the U.S. by legal means• 2004: 946, 142 legally• 500,00 illegally

Immigration FactsImmigration Facts

◊ Immigrants want to learn English• Just like immigrants at the turn of the

century! • Second generation speakers have

better fluency

◊ Immigrants are sought by employers• Low Wage workers

◊ Immigrants want to learn English• Just like immigrants at the turn of the

century! • Second generation speakers have

better fluency

◊ Immigrants are sought by employers• Low Wage workers

Immigration FactsImmigration Facts

◊ Immigrants are not likely to use SS or Welfare• Only refugees, asylees, and legal

immigrants are eligible

◊ Immigrants pay taxes• Sales taxes, property taxes, social

security

◊ Immigrants are not likely to use SS or Welfare• Only refugees, asylees, and legal

immigrants are eligible

◊ Immigrants pay taxes• Sales taxes, property taxes, social

security

Immigration FactsImmigration Facts

◊ Baby Boomers are starting to retire.

◊ Employers are needing more workers

◊ Local economies benefit• Immigrant owned businesses are

flourishing

◊ Baby Boomers are starting to retire.

◊ Employers are needing more workers

◊ Local economies benefit• Immigrant owned businesses are

flourishing

Drug WarDrug War

Drug WarDrug War

◊ A long standing drug war has been going on in Mexico.

◊ Increasing violence since 2006 when newly elected President Felipe Calderon took office and promised to squash the Cartels that have been in power for years.

◊ He is the first President to go after these drug Cartels (gangs).

◊ A long standing drug war has been going on in Mexico.

◊ Increasing violence since 2006 when newly elected President Felipe Calderon took office and promised to squash the Cartels that have been in power for years.

◊ He is the first President to go after these drug Cartels (gangs).

Drug WarDrug War

◊ Meth, Cocaine, Marijuana, and Heroin are filtered through Mexico into the U.S.

◊ Cartels fight each other for power and against the President.

◊ 90% of the drugs into the U.S. go through Mexico.

◊ The United States has an ‘insatiable’ (impossible to satisfy) demand for these illegal drugs.

◊ Meth, Cocaine, Marijuana, and Heroin are filtered through Mexico into the U.S.

◊ Cartels fight each other for power and against the President.

◊ 90% of the drugs into the U.S. go through Mexico.

◊ The United States has an ‘insatiable’ (impossible to satisfy) demand for these illegal drugs.

WeaponsWeapons

◊ 10,560 Mexicans (gang members and civilians) have been killed since 2006.

(2009 numbers)

◊ Only 4500 American Soldiers have died since 2003 in our current Iraq conflict.

(2009 numbers)

◊ The violence is starting to cross into the United States.

◊ 10,560 Mexicans (gang members and civilians) have been killed since 2006.

(2009 numbers)

◊ Only 4500 American Soldiers have died since 2003 in our current Iraq conflict.

(2009 numbers)

◊ The violence is starting to cross into the United States.

WeaponsWeapons

◊ The United States is supplying (illegally!) many weapons that are now getting into the hands of these cartels.

◊ Many of these gangs are heavily armed, the police force cannot match their arms.

◊ An arms race is beginning.◊ Explosives are being obtained.

◊ The United States is supplying (illegally!) many weapons that are now getting into the hands of these cartels.

◊ Many of these gangs are heavily armed, the police force cannot match their arms.

◊ An arms race is beginning.◊ Explosives are being obtained.

WeaponsWeapons

◊ President Obama says he will crackdown on the smuggling of weapons that are easily purchased lawfully in the U.S. and taken to Mexico.

◊ U.S. is sending more Federal agents to the border to alleviate the flow of guns and trade.

◊ President Obama says he will crackdown on the smuggling of weapons that are easily purchased lawfully in the U.S. and taken to Mexico.

◊ U.S. is sending more Federal agents to the border to alleviate the flow of guns and trade.

10 Shocking Facts About the Mexican Drug Wars10 Shocking Facts About the Mexican Drug Wars◊ 1. A recent U.S. government report suggests

that "Two large and important states bear consideration for a rapid and sudden collapse: Pakistan and Mexico.”

◊ 2. Mexico has one of the highest kidnapping rates in the world: An average of 70 people are abducted each month.

◊ 3. More than 1,100 guns found discarded at Mexico shooting scenes or confiscated from cartel gangsters were traced to Texas gun merchants in 2007.

◊ 1. A recent U.S. government report suggests that "Two large and important states bear consideration for a rapid and sudden collapse: Pakistan and Mexico.”

◊ 2. Mexico has one of the highest kidnapping rates in the world: An average of 70 people are abducted each month.

◊ 3. More than 1,100 guns found discarded at Mexico shooting scenes or confiscated from cartel gangsters were traced to Texas gun merchants in 2007.

10 Shocking Facts about the Mexican Drug War10 Shocking Facts about the Mexican Drug War◊ 4. One of Mexico's most notorious drug

kingpins, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, escaped a maximum security prison in 2001 by driving out in a laundry truck.

◊ 5. This year Forbes magazine included Joaquin Guzman, a Mexican drug lord, on its annual billionaires' list.

◊ 6. A drug cartel hood named "The Cook" reportedly dissolved the bodies of 300 victims in acid as part of the grisly work he committed for crime bosses.

◊ 4. One of Mexico's most notorious drug kingpins, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, escaped a maximum security prison in 2001 by driving out in a laundry truck.

◊ 5. This year Forbes magazine included Joaquin Guzman, a Mexican drug lord, on its annual billionaires' list.

◊ 6. A drug cartel hood named "The Cook" reportedly dissolved the bodies of 300 victims in acid as part of the grisly work he committed for crime bosses.

10 Shocking Facts about the Mexican Drug War10 Shocking Facts about the Mexican Drug War

◊ 7. The FBI has reported 75 open cases of Americans kidnapped in Mexico.

◊ 8. In a poll by the daily newspaper La Reforma, Mexico City residents ranked public insecurity as a worse crisis than the economy by a 5-to-1 margin. In the past year, 20 percent were crime victims.

◊ 9. In the past year, Mexico's civil drug war has claimed some 6,300 lives.

◊ 10. Grammy-nominated singer Sergio Gomez was kidnapped and his genitals were burned with a blowtorch in December 2007, presumably for singing narco corridos, or "drug ballads."

◊ 7. The FBI has reported 75 open cases of Americans kidnapped in Mexico.

◊ 8. In a poll by the daily newspaper La Reforma, Mexico City residents ranked public insecurity as a worse crisis than the economy by a 5-to-1 margin. In the past year, 20 percent were crime victims.

◊ 9. In the past year, Mexico's civil drug war has claimed some 6,300 lives.

◊ 10. Grammy-nominated singer Sergio Gomez was kidnapped and his genitals were burned with a blowtorch in December 2007, presumably for singing narco corridos, or "drug ballads."

What do you think should be done?

What do you think should be done?

Write down your opinion about what President Obama should do about immigration,

drug or weapon trade.

Write down your opinion about what President Obama should do about immigration,

drug or weapon trade.