“We don’t want them, they’re all yours.”
Mexico is helping some of its citizens apply for a controversial immigration program in the U.S. called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.
Since the Obama administration created the program in 2012, more than 580,000 unauthorized immigrants brought to the U.S. as minors have received temporary relief from deportation and been given work permits that last for at least two years.
But 45 percent of those who are eligible for DACA have not applied, and the cost may be holding some back. Immigrants have to pay a total of $465 to the Department of Homeland Security for fees related to the work permit and for required fingerprinting.
Mexican consulates around the U.S. have been paying those fees for some applicants through a little-known program for Mexican citizens with financial need.
Here’s a radical idea: maybe Mexico should help Mexican citizens in financial need while they’re in Mexico.
This has been one of the bigger problems that is never addressed in the charade of an illegal immigration debate. Mexico does nothing to help its own people. It would prefer its poor come here rather than have to deal with them domestically. No recent American president takes them to task for this or presses the issue. They pal around with whomever is in office in Mexico at the time as if all is right with the world.
Until we have leadership who will secure the border AND get tough with the Mexican government, the rest of the discussion is just so much theater.
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