12 February 2001
TO: Presidents George W. Bush and Vicente Fox
FROM: Co-Chairs, U.S.-Mexico Migration Panel, Ambassador Andrés Rozental, Mr. Thomas "Mack" McLarty, III and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio
PURPOSE: To call on Presidents Fox and Bush to commit their governments to begin discussions recasting our bilateral migration policy when they meet on 16 February 2001.
THE ISSUE. An opportunity exists for both Presidents to capitalize on the increasing economic integration of our nations and the historic confluence of business, labor, and social sector views on migration, by changing the terms of the discussion from one of confrontation to one of neighborly partnership and cooperation. This can be done by crafting a "migration grand bargain" transforming the way this issue is viewed based on the belief that migration should be safe, legal, orderly, and predictable through cooperative border management.
Migration between our countries is increasingly viewed as an opportunity rather than a problem. Record employment and worker shortages, coupled with U.S. labor needs as its baby boom generation moves into retirement over the next 15 years, make clear the need for a new approach to migration. All sectors recognize the limitations of current enforcement procedures and the tragic results of driving migrants into the hands of a migration black market.
PRINCIPLES. The following four fundamental principles form the basis for the new agenda and hang together as integrated elements of the grand bargain:
- Improved treatment for Mexican migrants by making visas and legal status more widely available.
- Helping to reduce unauthorized migration by cooperatively cracking down on criminal smuggling organizations and saving lives by preventing dangerous border crossing.
- Jointly building a viable border region.
- Targeting development initiatives to regions with high rates of emigration and strengthening the Mexican economy over time, thereby reducing migration pressures.
ACTIONS. Both Presidents can set the tone by showing determination and leadership and committing their governments to a new approach to the issue. Additionally, several actions could be taken to demonstrate their commitment. Among them are the following (details are at enclosure):
- Make legal status more widely available for established, employed, and taxpaying (but undocumented) immigrants by following on Congressional action in recent years.
- Expand permanent family visas for Mexico.
- Make work visas more widely available.
- Commit law enforcement on both sides of the border to protect migrant human rights and strengthen cooperation against criminal smuggling networks.
- Sign a bilateral social security totalization
agreement (as exists between the United States and many other countries,
including Canada).
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