Part 5Foreign and

Domestic Issues

The United Statesand Canada

TradeThe United States and Canada are quite INTERDEPENDENT on each other in the products they trade. In fact, each country is the other’s largest trading partner.

In 1993, the U.S. and Canada, along with Mexico, signed NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement).

The agreement worked to eliminate trade barriers and restrictions. It has worked in some areas, but some people feel American workers have been hurt. Companies have moved to Mexico where labor costs are cheaper. Plus, there is a fear that cheap products might flood the market, causing people to not buy American-made products.

There are also movements to extend FREE TRADE (trade with low, or no taxes) throughout all of the Western Hemisphere.

Many Americans are against the

globalization of the economy.

-Millions of

manufacturing jobs have been lost in the U. S. the last

30 years.

A North American Union?

Some people believe that NAFTA was a step to move the U. S., Canada, and Mexico into a political and economic union similar to what European countries are now doing.Would this union of nations dissolve international borders?Would we use the same monetary system?

The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America was signed in March 2005.

Political cartoon depicting the North American Union.

Potential transportation routes in a N. A. U.

An artist rendition of

what a North

American Union

currency called the “Amero”

might look like.

I do not know if the North American Union is a real plan that some leaders want to implement.It could be real, or it could just be the idea of conspiracy theorists.Regardless, it is an interesting idea to think about.

ImmigrationDue to poor economic conditions in Mexico and other countries south of the U. S. border, many people have tried to illegally come to the country to make money to send home.Concerns over terrorism, and ILLEGALS taking advantage of U. S. welfare benefits have caused border concerns.

Illegal Immigrants

It is estimated that there are at least 12 – 20 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Statistics show that of that number, 57% are from Mexico and 24% are from other Latin American countries. 9% are from various parts of Asia, 6% from Canada and Europe, and the remaining 4% are from other parts of the world.

Estimated illegal population in the mid 2000s.

Even though the U. S. has always been a land of immigration, many people want to limit it, and make sure that people are moving here legally. Others feel there should be no limits.Another concern, is that historically most immigrants have ASSIMILATED into American culture. If too many people move in at once, that might not happen.

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language…And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

Percentage of Foreign-Born PopulationCountry 2000 2010 2010 %

Canada 678,000 920,000 2.3%

China 1,391,000 1,900,000 4.7%

Cuba 952,000 1,100,000 2.7%

Dominican Republic 692,000 941,000 2.3%

El Salvador 765,000 1,100,000 2.7%

India 1,007,000 1,610,000 4.0%

Korea 701,000 880,000 2.2%

Mexico 7,841,000 9,600,000 23.7%

Philippines 1,222,000 1,700,000 4.2%

Vietnam 863,000 1,200,000 3.0%

Total Pop. Top 10 16,112,000 21,741,000 53.7%

Total Foreign Born 31,100,000 40,500,000 100%

In 2004, Hispanics officially passed Blacks as the second-largest racial/ethnic group in the United States. Some states, such as

California and Texas, already have a MINORITY-MAJORITY population. This

means that the non-white (Anglo) population, when grouped together, is larger than the white population. This has become

a political issue, as both major political parties are courting minority voters,

particularly Hispanics.

Mexico welcomes only foreigners who will be useful to Mexican society:

Foreigners are admitted into Mexico "according to their possibilities of contributing to national progress." (Article 32) Immigration officials must "ensure" that "immigrants will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their sustenance" and for their dependents. (Article 34)

Foreigners may be barred from the country if their presence upsets "the equilibrium of the national demographics," when foreigners are deemed detrimental to "economic or national interests," when they do not behave like good citizens in their own country, when they have broken Mexican laws, and when "they are not found to be physically or mentally healthy." (Article 37) The Secretary of Governance may "suspend or prohibit the admission of foreigners when he determines it to be in the national interest." (Article 38)

Mexican authorities must keep track of every single person in the country:

Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request, i.e., to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants. (Article 73) A National Population Registry keeps track of "every single individual who comprises the population of the country," and verifies each individual's identity. (Articles 85 and 86) A national Catalog of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and immigrants (Article 87), and assigns each individual with a unique tracking number (Article 91).

Foreigners with fake papers, or who enter the country under false

pretenses, may be imprisoned:

Foreigners with fake immigration papers may be fined or imprisoned. (Article 116) Foreigners who sign government documents "with a signature that is false or different from that which he normally uses" are subject to fine and imprisonment. (Article 116)

Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined, deported, and/or imprisoned as felons:

Foreigners who fail to obey a deportation order are to be punished. (Article 117) Foreigners who are deported from Mexico and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. (Article 118) Foreigners who violate the terms of their visa may be sentenced to up to six years in prison (Articles 119, 120 and 121). Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visa while in Mexico -- such as working without a permit -- can also be imprisoned.

Under Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony. The General Law on Population

says:"A penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of three hundred to five thousand pesos will be imposed on the foreigner who enters the country illegally." (Article 123)

Foreigners with legal immigration problems may be deported from Mexico instead of being imprisoned. (Article 125)

Foreigners who "attempt against national sovereignty or security" will be deported. (Article 126)

Mexicans who help illegal aliens enter the country are themselves considered

criminals under the law:

A Mexican who marries a foreigner with the sole objective of helping the foreigner live in the country is subject to up to five years in prison. (Article 127) Shipping and airline companies that bring undocumented foreigners into Mexico will be fined. (Article 132)

Mexico after independence from Spain

In 1836, the Republic of Texas broke away from Mexico and formed their own country. Later, after joining the U. S. in 1845, a border dispute led to the Mexican American War. Mexico lost two of its states—California and New Mexico.

The U. S. paid $15 million for the Mexican Cession.

Some Mexicans feel that this territory was “stolen” from

them, and that Mexico should

get it back. Here is a vodka

advertisement promoting that

idea.

Those who favor

protecting our borders came up with their own drawing.

Aztlan and the Reconquista Movement

Some Hispanics believe Aztlan was the mythical home of the Aztecs. The goal of the Reconquista Movement is to either return the land to Mexico, or establish a separate country.

Los Angeles would be the capital of Aztlan.

Clip #1 Clip #2

According to the Los Angeles Times…

40% of the workers in L. A. county (population 10.2 million), are working for cash and not paying taxes. Most of them are illegal immigrants without a green card.

95% of arrest warrants for murder, are for people here illegally. 75% of the people on the “Most Wanted List” in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.Over 2/3 of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal, whose births were paid for by taxpayers.Nearly 35% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages.

The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border.Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal.21 radio stations in L. A. are Spanish speaking.In L. A. County 5.1 million people speak English, 3.9 million speak Spanish.Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops, but 29% are on welfare.29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens.DRUG TRAFFICKING

Drug TraffickingTake a look at these drug facts from the

Weber/Morgan Strike Force :

From May 2009 to May 2010, there were 483 drug-related arrests in the area. Of those, 38 or about 8% were illegal aliens. However, that 8% was responsible for 82% of the drugs seized during the arrests. 17.11 pounds of meth, 12.86 pounds of cocaine, 1.5 pounds of heroin, and 225.16 pounds of marijuana were confiscated.

Health Care

People generally live long in both nations, partly due to the quality health care they receive. The average woman lives to be about 80, while men

can expect to live into their late 70s. Canada pays for its citizens’ care, with high personal

income taxes, while that is a hotly debated topic in the United States. The U. S. does have Medicare and Medicaid for some citizens.

Medicare and MedicaidClip #MEDICARE is a federal government program that provides health care coverage if you are 65 or older, or have a disability, no matter what your income.MEDICAID is a federally-funded, state-run program that provides medical assistance for individuals and families with limited incomes and resources.

Social SecuritySOCIAL SECURITY is a tax payer-funded government-run program to help people who are retired, or are unable to work, with money so that they are able to live. This includes the disabled, and children who have lost their parents.The government collects a tax from American workers, that is put into a fund.It was never meant for people to live solely on.

Ida May Fuller was

the first recipient of

a Social Security

check after the act was passed in

1935.

Social Security was originally designed for

older persons, but has since grown as a

“safety net” for other people.

Your generation and mine will be helping to take care of the elderly.

With an aging population due to the baby boom, the need to help the elderly will increase.