2008 Woodie Awards
Mexican ambassador gives political advice
Nadia Galindo
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: Politics
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Urrea said he has been a representative of Mexico since the 1970s, and his current job is to provide services to the Mexican population in the U.S. He said he provides legal advice and birth and death certificates along with other services.
Urrea explained his position on illegal immigration, which is a hot issue in the United States and especially in Farmers Branch.
"Unfortunately immigration has been dealt with by people who see it in black and white," Urrea said.
He said he thinks many Americans believe Mexicans come to the U.S. to get free health care and education, but both these services are offered in Mexico. Urrea said the real reason Mexicans come to the U.S. is to make money to send back to their families and earn enough money to go home and open a business.
He said the United States wants to build a wall between Mexico and the U.S., and he doesn't understand why.
"We cannot have a double standard," Urrea said. "Mexico is a better trading partner than Great Britain and Poland combined. No one buys more products from the U.S. except for Canada."
He said there are undocumented people in the country from Canada, but they are not pointed out because they resemble Europeans.
Urrea said Mexican President Felipe Calderon is trying to create new jobs so people are encouraged to stay and work in Mexico.
"[Mexico] needs to open trade with other countries because it will help create jobs," Urrea said. "This is a battle that President Calderon is facing with Congress because it is hard to get Congress to change."
Urrea said Calderon has taken over the five reforms set forth by ex-President Vicente Fox. These five reforms were:
1. Energy: An example is there is only one oil company, which is the biggest source of income for the government and does not export.
2. Monopolies: There are only two TV networks for viewers to watch and only one phone company,
3. Labor: The unions had become so powerful that it was hard to fire people,
4. Fiscal: The government needs to regulate taxes,
5. Electorial: A separate institute counts ballots now.
Brookhaven student Enrique Anchorena said he learned about immigration and Mexican issues because of Urrea.
"I also learned a lot about the five reforms that are taking place in Mexico," Anchorena said.
Urrea said Fox tried to make these changes during his presidency but because there were so many roadblocks he could not.
Urrea said Calderon currently has an approval rating of 68 percent because he has taken over the five reforms Fox started.
He said a separate institute now counts the election ballots because for several decades the same political party won the national elections. Urrea said in Mexico things are now changing for the better.
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