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Presidents Bush and Fox Address Flood of Mexican Laborers and Value in Terms Both Economic and Human
Aired September 06, 2001 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: After a day of public events and private discussion, Presidents Bush and Vicente Fox will travel today to America's heartland and the very soul of the trade issue: the flood of Mexican laborers and their value in terms both economic and human. We have CNN correspondents posted at various mile markers of this story.
Kate Snow is going to preview President Fox's address to Congress next hour, and Major Garrett maps out the journey ahead.
Now let's begin at the White House.
Our Major Garrett standing by there. Good morning, Major.
MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.
As you said, the economy, the issue of immigration and also the issue of drug trafficking very much on the agenda of Presidents Bush and Fox. But the economy will take precedent today. After a joint statement here at the White House, the two presidents will fly to Toledo, Ohio. Why Toledo? First and the foremost, President Fox has relatives some there. And the entire debate over free trade, and the industrial heartland in the Midwest. Toledo is represented by the Democrat Marcie Chapter much more opposed of the American free trade when it was passed. That NAFTA has worked well for both countries, and more free trade will benefit them in the future -- Leon.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, thank you very much. Major Garrett at the White House -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: And less than an hour from now, Vicente Fox will have a visiting hour from the joint meeting with Congress. For a preview, we turn to CNN congressional correspondent Kate Snow.
Well, Kate, what do we expect?
KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jeanne, we expect that the president will probably talk high on the agenda about immigration. Yesterday he went to the White House and spoke about wanting to get legislation to expand the rights of Mexican immigrants to the United States, wanting to get that done perhaps by the end of the year. That statement reportedly surprised both his own staff and also President Bush and some of the White House aides. They weren't expecting such a quick timetable.
So we do expect him to address immigration issues here when he speaks for about 20 minutes. We're told mostly in English the speech will be. We also expect to talk about trade, and also expect he'll probably touch on the issue of Mexican trucks that cross the border and safety standards. That's been a big issue here on Capitol Hill. One Republican aide says to me this morning that Mexican President Fox will receive a hero's welcome here. He's treated, he says -- quote -- "like a rock star" here on Capitol Hill. Indeed, I saw Mr. Fox here last night on a presentation of Capitol Hill, and it was quite a crowd around him. A lot of kind reception, especially from the Hispanic caucus here in the House. They're very welcoming of President Fox, and he's relying on them and other members to try to get some of his agenda through this Congress -- Jeanne.
MESERVE: Kate, immigration topic number one. What's the sentiment on Capitol Hill for immigration reform?
SNOW: There are kind of two camps here, Jeanne. There is one camp that is very much in favor of an expanded role, expanded role -- an expansion of rights, I should say, for Mexican immigrant, particularly for workers in this country. Democrats are pushing for what might be called amnesty for some of the those millions of Mexican immigrants who already live in this country. But on the other side, there is also a set of people, a more conservative set, that is very much against a blanket, what they call, amnesty. They Might be in favor of some sort of an expansion of the guest worker program , which has been talked about quite a bit, but they might not want it to go quite as far as President Vicente Fox would like.
MESERVE: Kate Snow on Capitol Hill, thanks. And we'll be back to you a bit later when CNN will have live coverage of President Fox's address before Congress. That will be at top of the hour, 11:00 Eastern, 8:00 Pacific.
The issue of trade is not only measured in economic terms, but human as well. Mexican laborers are a driving force of many blue collar industries, such as construction and landscaping, and in many ways, they're hidden in plain sight.
Often here illegally, they are ignored by law enforcement and unprotected by existing labor laws.
CNN Financial News reporter Fred Katayama explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRED KATAYAMA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's becoming a common sight in many towns and cities across the country: lines of day laborers, most of them immigrants. They do the back-breaking manual labor many Americans do not want to. But residents often consider them an eyesore and a threat to security and property values.
Here in the hamlet of Farmingville, just outside New York City, the welcome mat does not extend to Mexican day laborers, some of whom gather next to this 7-Eleven. Miguel Hernandez and his fellow laborers are constantly monitored by some residents who demand they leave the neighborhood.
Miguel and other day laborers we interviewed talked under the condition that we not disclose their legal status.
"Many times men pass by," he says, "and boys pass by in cars. They'll throw bottles. Sometimes they'll wave air pistols, and sometimes they'll insult us."
(on camera): Some economists say the United States is dependent on immigrant labor, whether they're welcome or not. A study by UCLA found that undocumented immigrants contribute $300 billion annually to the U.S. economy. That's roughly 3 percent of gross domestic product.
Mexican immigrants contribute a little more than half of that.
(voice-over): One local lawmaker sees day laborers as a hidden resource, especially given the low jobless rate.
PAUL TONNA, SUFFOLK COUNTY LEGISLATURE: You know, how do we get the labor that we need if it isn't for the fact that a large influx of people come to this region who are willing to work hard. They are an incredible resource and make a huge contribution to our local economy.
KATAYAMA: Hard numbers on the day labor population do not exist, but it's estimated at 2 million. A significant number are illegal. The growing immigrant population has become an issue in communities across the nation like Glen Cove, Long Island.
As in nearby Farmingville, immigrant day laborers -- in this case overwhelmingly Salvadoran -- began lining up about six years ago. Residents objected.
PAT BLANCO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LA FUERZA UNIDA: There was some public outcries, there were some racist incidents. There was some belligerence to it.
KATAYAMA: What resolved the tension, immigrant backers here say, was political leadership. Aided by the local Catholic church, the Glen Cove mayor set up a hiring center where contractors and day laborers can hook up.
JOHN BINGHAM, IMMIGRANT SERVICES DIRECTOR, CATHOLIC CHARITIES: So far, the community centers that were set up for that purpose have succeeded brilliantly in moving the crowds away from places that couldn't accommodate them.
KATAYAMA: Hiring centers have increasingly become a popular solution. Nearly 40 of them serve day laborers nationwide.
Manuel Figueroa visited the Glen Cove center this week, hoping to find some construction work. He earns about $100 on a good day.
"We have protection," he says, "from the weather, the sun and the rain."
Back in Farmingville, local lawmakers shot down a proposal to build a hiring center. So this winter, Manuel will be back, braving the elements and the abuse.
Fred Katayama, CNN Financial News, Farmingville, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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