Mexico seeks international action against US migration plan

The Mexican government is seeking a common strategy to fight the U.S. anti-immigrant plan, Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez told local media on Wednesday.

Colombia, the Dominican Republic and the Central American nations will be Mexico's allies, and the plan will be pushed at a meeting with U.S. deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick next week, he said.

The U.S. Senate is currently considering an anti-migrant bill, which will build 1,200 km of new fencing on the 3,200 km border between Mexico and the United States. If approved, the new bill will intensify measures available to courts against undocumented migrants and make it more difficult for employers to hire undocumented workers.

The Republican party's initiative has been opposed by all the Latin American countries with substantial numbers of people in the United States, as well as by human rights groups that defend immigrants.

There is a possibility that the US Senate might reject the bill, because public opinion is against the plan, Derbez said.

Mexican President Vicente Fox described the bill as shameful, and added that he is sure it will eventually be rejected.

The Mexican government has offered a migrant reform proposal that includes provisions to transform illegal Mexican migrants into documented workers. Around 10 million Mexicans live in the United States, sending home 400 million dollars each year, according to Mexican government statistics.

Source: Xinhua