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Show U.S. Needs Mexican Workers And They : Meed More Of Our Dollars i By TOM BUSSELBERG SALT LAKE CITY Whether many Americans like it or not, the United States needs Mexican workers just as much as its southern border needs that shot in the arm it's big brother can give. AND COMPLAINTS the American economy is being siphoned off by illegal Mexican Mex-ican immigrants who also make heavy use of schools and social services are unfounded, the Immigration Issues conference confer-ence held last week in Salt Lake City was told. Dr. Manuel Canto Chac, a social sciences professor at the National University of Mexico, Mex-ico, who said, "I feel for an important section of the North American people the problem stems like a direct threat to security." THAT OVERFLOWS into beliefs that social problems have increased due to Mexican "influx" and created an "economic "eco-nomic burden for the American Amer-ican taxpayer." He said the situation is perceived per-ceived as a problem when it's perceived Mexican workers are displacing Americans. "The Mexican worker generally gener-ally performs tasks the Americans Amer-icans won't do. The nature of the work, salary and non-acceptance non-acceptance by the American because of its (often) temporary tempor-ary nature" were substantiated substanti-ated by two programs conducted con-ducted in San Diego and Los Angeles. IN EFFORTS to recapture jobs held by illegal aliens an attempt was made to fill vacancies vacan-cies created when arrested Mexicans were evicted by Americans. It failed, largely because employers paid "less than the minimum wage," Dr. Chac said, adding that in San Diego similar failure resulted after efforts to retain unemployed unem-ployed Anglos failed. Citing statistics refuting claims Mexicans place a heavy drain on American social service ser-vice agencies, he said of 433 interviewed in-terviewed in one study taxes had been withheld for nearly 75 percent of the workers while more than two-thirds had a porion withheld for Social So-cial Security benefits. "MORE THAN 96 percent said they did not have any children chil-dren in public schools and more than 94 ercent said they did not use welfare or medical assistance," he continued, noting the cost of social services ser-vices rendered to Mexicans was estimated at $2 million while they paid nearly $50 million mil-lion in taxes during the same year. "It's been said Mexican immigrants im-migrants represent a silent invasion, in-vasion, that they would be a threat to the culture and life of Americans," he continued, indicating in-dicating similar complaints have been lodged "at different moments" over Italians, Poles, and the Japanese, among others. THEN HE pointed to what he called "a definite difference" differ-ence" between those immigrants immig-rants and Mexicans that of permanency of stay. Further quoting from unnamed studies he indicated 71 percent remained re-mained in this country four months or less before their "first trip" back to Mexico and only 11 percent worked more than a year before that first trip. "Does the American eco- nomy require Mexican some of the drfT.cult.es it's often necessary to have (their) labor in some areas Again citing wages, length of work he said Mexican workers becomes a condition for such labors. "I HATE to imagine what would happen to (many) smal businesses when they lose that (labor supply). Who would be willing to work any longer hours?" Continuing, Dr. Chac said. "Up to now, the force of undocumented un-documented workers, I dare say, was a necessity of the North American work force." He called it reminiscent of tides against immigration in 1930 on the dawn of the Great Depression; in 1954 during the Korean War conflict and since 1975. WHY DO Mexicans seek work in the United States? The . levels of unemployment are far higher there, Dr. Chac said, noting many jobs are not geared to high levels of employment em-ployment along with lower salaries. "The incapacity of the Mexican Mex-ican economy to offer labor at an appropriate level as a consequence con-sequence means of required escape valve" such as workers going across the border for work. It's no secret the North Amercian economy is in bad shape but it's not a short term repair that will correct it," the professor said. FOR THE Mexican economy eco-nomy to be able to absorb all of its workers, a 66 percent increase in-crease in the economy would be necessary, he continued, noting that "without doubt, 4, those levels are very difficu & to obtain and are often of more "technical level" ,1.! tends to favor the use of capi i (funds) over labor. i Current attitudes lead tn creation ofa social climated 'i favorable to temporary vJ and that would elemia, '" bilingual schools and the ca ,f rying out of periodic raids illegal al.ens. It's a case of Americans possibly thinkine "We thought we would re ceive the benefit of Mexican -"" work without (paying thel cost." ;fi a MEANWHILE, the Me, ican government's view is i0 .: $ continue maintaining an '3 "escape valve" for its citizens -to the United States. It was further noted that technology developed by '-American '-American enterprises has be- 1 come a "direct cause of prot lems" in Mexico with opinions of illegal aliens returning to their homeland changed. ' TIES WITH Mexico cant " be considered lightly, Dr. Chac said, noting trade wjft Mexico now has surpassed Germany and the United Kingdom King-dom with the U.S. and that trade benefits both sides. "To state the solution to the problem of illegal immigra-tion immigra-tion it's not a problem of a ! rich economy among pooreco- '"" nomies (Central and Souti 'L.America) 'L.-America) but they (countries) -:: are poor because of the riches '' of this economy. ji "IT SEEMS the govern- -ments don't have any solution or initiative," he added, speaking of both sides of the :-Rio :-Rio Grande. "It seems only '- possible to solve this through social organizations. Organizations Organi-zations that have courage." |