“Mexico and Mexicans must stop being in a passive attitude toward the elections in the United States and understand that in our bilateral relationship, the policy of another country is no longer a matter of foreign policy, but domestic policy.” Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa writing in a Mexican newspaper.

The below guest column is from a Mexican newspaper and written by former Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa – who was national co-chairman of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign. He is expected to run for Governor of California in 2018. 

excelsior.com.mx

The vote of the Mexicans in the United States

Antonio Villaraigosa

In California, we learned that the Best way to protect our rights is the vote.

October 3, 2016

Today we are struggling between two visions, the first of a fairer world, where the rights recognized as universal are available to all human beings, regardless of race, nationality, gender, age or sexual preference.

On the other hand, we have the world where rights exist only for some persons, where distrust and fear on the other divide us as human beings, a world where borders separate families, and cultures are not shared.

With walls that separate us instead of joining us with bridges. We are debating between going back to the past and move forward into the future.

As Caro Lewis used to say, we cannot change the past, but you can learn from it. Mr. Donald Trump is dangerous to the American dream. Not only because his possible triumph threatens the rights and aspirations of millions of people, but because his speech is having echo in a group of Americans who believe his lies. We must prevent this from happening. It is the responsibility of all people who believe in democracy, human rights and especially in the American dream, to do everything in our power to stop it. The Latin community has a great responsibility in this election. To raise its voice through voting.

In California, we have learned that the best way to protect our rights is the vote. In 1994 some politicians tried to pass a law that directly attacked the rights of migrant workers. With a very similar speech to the one used now by Trump in his campaign, they have tried to separate families and destroy the dreams of millions of people. How do we stop? Through the vote. The community in California was organized and not only made those politicians lose in the following elections, but promoted new leaders who reached positions to protect and make grow the community. This is what we, Latinos, have learned in the United States. Our vote counts to protect our rights. Equal rights for all.

What can we do from Mexico to help our countrymen to have more rights and opportunities? What can we do, not only to defeat Trump, but to defeat his anachronistic speech? Very easy: you have to tell them that they have to participate through voting. That they have to register and vote. And those who still can do it, to become US citizens, so they can be registered and vote.

Mexico and Mexicans must stop being in a passive attitude toward the elections in the United States and understand that in our bilateral relationship, the policy of another country is no longer a matter of foreign policy, but domestic policy.

* Former mayor of the city of Los Angeles

__

Original Spanish language version:

El voto de los mexicanos en Estados Unidos
En Califonia, aprendimos que la mejor manera de proteger nuestros derechos es el voto.

03 de Octubre de 2016

Hoy están debatiéndose dos visiones, la primera de un mundo más justo, donde los derechos reconocidos como universales estén al alcance de todos los seres humanos, sin distinciones de raza, nacionalidad, sexo, edad o preferencia sexual.

Por otro lado, es el mundo donde los derechos existen solamente para algunos, donde la desconfianza y el miedo por el otro nos dividen como seres humanos, un mundo donde las fronteras separan familias , y las culturas no se comparten.

Donde nos separan con muros en lugar de unirnos con puentes. Están debatiéndose volver al pasado o seguir avanzando hacia el futuro.

Decía Lewis Caro que uno no puede cambiar el pasado, pero puede aprender de él. El señor Donald Trump es un peligro para el sueño americano. No sólo porque su posible triunfo amenaza los derechos y anhelos de millones de personas, sino porque su discurso está teniendo eco en un grupo de americanos que creen sus mentiras. Tenemos que impedir que esto siga sucediendo. Es responsabilidad de todas las personas que creemos en la democracia, en los derechos humanos y, especialmente, en el sueño americano, hacer todo lo que esté en nuestras manos para detenerlo. La comunidad latina tiene una gran responsabilidad en ésta elección. Alzar la voz a través del voto.

En Califonia, aprendimos que la mejor manera de proteger nuestros derechos es el voto. En 94 algunos políticos intentaron pasar una ley que atacaba directamente los derechos de los trabajadores migrantes. Con un discurso muy similar al que hoy utiliza Trump en su campaña, intentaron separar familias y destruir el sueño de millones de personas. ¿Cómo los paramos? A través del voto. La comunidad en California se organizó y no sólo hizo perder a esos políticos en las siguientes elecciones sino que promovió nuevos liderazgos que llegaron a posiciones para proteger y hacer crecer a la comunidad. Esto es lo que hemos aprendido los latinos en Estados Unidos. Nuestro voto cuenta para proteger nuestros derechos. Los mismos derechos de todos.

¿Qué podemos hacer desde México para ayudar a que nuestros paisanos tengan más derechos y oportunidades. Qué podemos hacer, no sólo para derrotar a Trump, sino para derrotar a su anacrónico discurso? Muy fácil: hay que decirles que participen a través del voto. Que se registren y que voten. Y quienes aún puedan, que se hagan ciudadanos, para registrarse y votar.

México y los mexicanos deben dejar de tener una actitud pasiva ante las elecciones en Estados Unidos y entender que en nuestra relación bilateral, la política del otro país ya no es un asunto de política exterior, sino de la política interior.

*Exalcalde de la ciudad de Los Ángeles

Reporter Newspapers Update, November 7, 2016: I sent a respopnse to the below which ran in Reporter newspapers in the Friday (November 4) edition. It is pasted below.

Opinion: The Mexican community’s contribution to Georgia’s economy

Javier Díaz de León

Wherever new immigrants go, they face significant challenges. Migrants have very high resilience and capability for integration with the members of the communities where they live, but most of the time, they struggle against social, economic, cultural and lawful impediments to move forward toward a better life due to their immigration status. However, they face them with dignity and perseverance.

Javier Díaz de León, the consul general of Mexico in Atlanta. (Special)

For instance, in Georgia, their adaptation process is in many ways a complex issue, considering the many economic and legislative obstacles that immigrants face in their quest for further or higher education. Unfortunately, many residents believe that immigrants do not deserve an opportunity for a better education, or to obtain valid identifications or access to driving licenses. This is hard to understand, considering that an inclusive, better educated and empowered community provides better opportunities for everybody.

Nevertheless, some remarkable initiatives of understanding and acceptance have been carried out in this great city and in this state. Such is the case of “Welcoming Atlanta,” an initiative that promotes inclusion and welcoming to build a multicultural community in metro Atlanta. According to Welcoming Atlanta, the city boasts the second-fastest-growing foreign-born population in the United States. The city government of Atlanta recognizes the richness of the cultural and economic contributions of these communities, and that makes a lot of sense.

Since Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced in May 2014 the creation of Welcoming Atlanta, this initiative has focused on five key areas of immigrant integration: ensuring equitable access to services; expanding educational opportunities; facilitating economic empowerment; enhancing public safety and fostering a connected community; and building immigrant civic engagement and leadership. Through this initiative, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs was established, which has been working as the liaison between the city of Atlanta and the immigrant and refugee community. The goals of this office are, among others, public safety, community engagement and economic development.

Here is some hard data that may provide an overview of the importance and contribution of the Latino and Mexican community to Georgia: 1 in 10 Georgians are Latinos; in 2014 the purchasing power of Georgia’s Latinos was $17.6 billion (an increase of 1,232 percent since 1990); and Latinos in Georgia paid $1.9 billion in federal taxes, and $1 billion in state and local taxes in 2013.
Mexico’s importance for Georgia in terms of our economic relationship is surprising to many. Mexico is Georgia’s fourth-largest trading partner in the world, after China, Germany and Canada. Our bilateral trade reached $9.7 billion dollars in 2015; but more importantly, Mexico is the second-largest buyer of goods from Georgia, after Canada. Georgia exports to Mexico reached $3.4 billion in 2015, when Mexico accounted for 9 percent of Georgia’s exports worldwide.

Besides the above mentioned, Georgia’s exports to Mexico have grown at an annual average rate of 10.2 percent in 21 years since NAFTA came into force; Georgia is the 11th U.S. state in exports to Mexico. Georgia has increased its exports to Mexico more than 200 percent since NAFTA started. The top exports from Georgia to Mexico are: insulated wire, aluminum sheets, gas turbines, civilian aircraft and related engines and parts, and refrigerating or freezing equipment. And on the other side, these are Georgia’s top imports from Mexico: insulated wire, televisions, motor vehicles, refrigerators or freezers, internal combustion piston engines, and lamps and light fittings.

Mexico and Georgia share a strong and vibrant relationship, since we are very important to each other. We are business partners and we share an interest in common prosperity.

Mexican migrants moving to Georgia embrace a dream for a better life. We must understand their ideals and needs, but also recognize their daily contributions to the economy and social fabric of Georgia. We encourage them to be proud of their roots, their culture and the place where they come from, but also to be an integrated, empowered and vocal part of the communities they live in.

Javier Díaz de León was appointed as the consul general of Mexico in Atlanta in June. He previously served as consul general in Raleigh, N.C., and as deputy consul in New York and San Diego, Calif.

__

Reporter newspaper Oct 2016

A reply to Atlanta’s Mexican Consul General – Respectfully: No sale, Mr. Diaz de Leon.

D.A. King

In his recent commentary here, (“Opinion: The Mexican community’s contribution to Georgia’s economy – October 2) Javier Díaz de León, the consul general of Mexico in Atlanta had a lot to say about what he calls “immigrants” and “migrants.” And he outlined what he says are hardships they encounter here in the Peach State.

We fear readers with little independent knowledge of actual facts on immigration and the sovereign nation of Mexico may take away a very inaccurate and distorted view of reality without some knowledgeable balance to the Mexican diplomat’s presentation.

According to the federal government, “immigrants” are people who enter the United States lawfully with the intention of permanent residence. The word “immigrant” should be sacred to, and defended by, all Americans. Illegal aliens are not immigrants.

“Immigrants,” the Mexican official tells us, “struggle against social, economic, cultural and lawful impediments to move forward toward a better life due to their immigration status.”

This is an all too usual insult to real immigrants for political gain. Let’s be clear: According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Georgia contains more illegal aliens than Arizona – most of who come from Mexico.

“Unfortunately, many (Georgia) residents believe that immigrants do not deserve an opportunity for a better education, or to obtain valid identifications or access to driving licenses. This is hard to understand, considering that an inclusive, better educated and empowered community provides better opportunities for everybody” writes Diaz de Leon.

It must be noted that real immigrants have zero problems with any of those benefits in Georgia. What he means is that life can be difficult for illegal aliens here.

Perhaps space prevented Mr. Diaz de Leon from informing Georgia readers that in Mexico, there are severe penalties in place for illegal immigration and illegal employment – and they are unapologetically enforced. Or that illegals in Mexico have absolutely no chance of obtaining a drivers license or officially-issued ID cards – or attending any education facility with out proper documents.

Neither can Mexican citizens vote unless they present a very secure Mexican voter ID, complete with fingerprints and (gasp) a photo of the voter.

Mexico has been encouraging and facilitating illegal immigration for decades. In 1994, the Government of Mexico produced a 32-page “How To” guide containing information to aid Mexican citizens in crossing the border illegally into the United States.

It is much easier for average Georgians to grasp the motivation and agenda of the Mexican diplomatic corps if we all note that Mexico uses huge amounts of U.S. dollars sent home by its “migrants” to prop up the Mexican economy. In February the Mexican central bank reported that money sent home by Mexicans overseas hit nearly $24.8 billion in 2015, overtaking oil revenues for the first time as a source of foreign income. Get it?

The Mexican Consul General to Atlanta assures us that Mexican “migrants” possess “a very high resilience and capability for integration with the members of the communities where they live.”

Most of us have understandable doubts about that statement when we see the never-ending marches in the streets of Atlanta by angry and illegally present ‘victims of borders’ screaming that we must end enforcement of American immigration laws and when we see the push for foreign-language voter assistance and ballots in the state of Georgia, USA.

Respectfully: No sale, Mr. Diaz de Leon.

D.A. King of Marietta is president of the Georgia-based Dustin Inman Society and describes himself as “pro-enforcement” on immigration. www.TheDustinInmanSociety.org