The Nation.

A New Green Card Deal

By Mae M. Ngai

This article appeared in the July 9, 2007 edition of The Nation.

June 21, 2007

Write a Web letter about this article.

What's a Web Letter?

Web Letters are continuously published e-mails from real people, signed with their real names. No registration is required. Each article page on The Nation includes a Web Letters link.

Read the best Web Letters on this page.

We're committed to publishing your comments as they are received. We place a red star () on the best submissions and may edit your e-mail for length or content. Your e-mail address will not be published or shared with any third party without your consent.

If you prefer, you may submit a letter to the print edition only.

We look forward to hearing from you.

  • Mae M. Ngai's article offers what few essays on the immigration problem do, namely constructive criticism.

    I wish more people shared Ngai's insight, backed up by experience, that our green-card policy does not create reality, but merely responds to it and should conform to it. Denying green cards does not slow the pace of immigration; it only makes more immigrants illegal.

    But Ngai does not stop there; she also considers the impacts of NAFTA and CAFTA and the need to replace these treaties with agreements that respect the rights of workers. This reform would seize our migration problem by the roots and change everybody's real economic circumstances for the better.

    Eric Paul Jacobsen

    Saint Paul, MN

    06/30/2007 @ 10:42am


  • Mexico continues its corrupt system of the small elite taking most of the money and providing no social services for the majority of its citizens. They tell their citizens to go to the US illegally, work, send money back to Mexico. That's an "economy"? No, that's in fact designed to keep the citizens from demanding their fair share.

    What the US should do is to create development zones in certain areas in Mexico; the land would be delineated and held in trust for the people of Mexico. The governments of the US, and private businesses, would build permanent housing, parks, sanitation, water purification, schools, hospitals, colleges, transportation, and businesses to employ the residents. A certain amount of land would be set aside for farming. Get that one zone going, in twenty years they will be self-sufficient, highly educated and probably spread throughout the country. Both US and Mexican citizens could live there, with each having certain rights, but each retaining their citizenship in their own country. The policing would probably have to be a joint effort since so much of Mexico's police is corrupt. All of the businesses and residents would be subject to certain taxes as they begin making money, and the taxes would be used to offset the initial investment.

    Mexico has tons of land, resources,and a young, hard-working population. They do not have an honest government, or a business community that is willing to invest in their own people. This entire project could probably be initially funded by a few philanthropists. The buildings and facilities could be built by the people without profit, similar to Habitat. If we want to end the immigration flow from Mexico, it might make more sense to start investing in Mexico and giving the people of Mexico a real opportunity inside their own country.

    Nancy A. Butterfield

    Camarillo, CA

    06/29/2007 @ 7:48pm


Popular Topics
Most Searched

Issues »

Most Emailed

Issues »

Blogs

» The Beat

Obama's Wrong Turn in Afghanistan | Instead of talking about sending more troops, he should listen to wise critics of the occupation.
John Nichols

» Campaign 08

Al Gore Makes Surprise Visit to Netroots Nation | The former VP parachutes into the netroots summit, seeking support for the climate movement.
Ari Melber

» The Notion

Netroots Summit Grapples with Bipartisan Attacks on Rule of Law | The netroots clash with liberal experts & Obama advisers over how to restore the rule of law after Bush.
Ari Melber

» Capitolism

Crawford | A new documentary takes a look at what happened to the town George W Bush decided to call home.
Christopher Hayes

» ActNow!

Honoring the Next Generation | Cristina Lara wins first Brave Nation Young Activist Award. Watch the video.
Peter Rothberg

» The Dreyfuss Report

Spies Cash In | Spending for spooks has doubled since 9/11.
Robert Dreyfuss

» And Another Thing

McCain Opposes Contraception -- Pass It On | He's for Viagra and against the pill. Why won't the media cover this important story?
Katha Pollitt

» Editor's Cut

NOLA Watch: Gulf Stream Fails the Smell Test | Fifteen thousand displaced people living in trailers are still are in need of permanent, safe homes.
Katrina vanden Heuvel

» Passing Through

The Web Will Not Kill Traditional Organizing | The internet is not the end of local community organizing, just a new tool that allows citizens to more efficiently build their social capital.
Michael Connery