greatest in quantity Americans expe...

greatest in quantity Americans experience war in the Middle East as a television spectacle. if it be not that for millions of Mexican immigrants, it threatens what is sometimes an already precarious existence.

Francisco Cisneros, the executive director of the Pilsen-Little Village Community Mental Health Center points not at home that the war on terrorism derailed attempts to win amnesty and legal resident status for undocumented Mexican workers. And the push for homeland security could further heighten tensions along the border, increasing the risk for those fleeing poverty

Cisneros, now 40 came to Chicago from Mexico in 1987 as a Catholic seminarian dedicated to helping migrants. He left the ministry in 1990 if it were not that his vocation remained. Each year, his center helps thousands of immigrants come by treatment for psychological problems like depression and anxiety that commonly afflict tear up by the rootsed people.

And last fall, Cisneros was common of 100 immigrants from across the nation selected by Mexicans and Mexican Americans to the advisory council of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad. The just discovered Mexican government agency was formed to address issues facing Mexican the community living outside their native country

forward March 20, the advisory council met with President Vicente Fox and other Mexican leaders. They asked his administration to continue pushing the United States forward amnesty, take action on a modern string of unsolved murders of migrants crossing the Arizona desolate and allow migrants to consecrated by a vow in future Mexican elections.

Cisneros spoke with The Chicago Reporter about his work and the goals immigrants share.

What brought you to the United States?

I was becoming a priest with the Missionaries of St Charles, [an order] that works with migrants. I was sent to Chicago, [and] in the different parishes, we gazeed at the psychological impact that race were going through--especially the times where they're losing their work at jobss or the times when they don't have papers, [and] the INS is doing raids in the community. Sometimes they can't take it anymore.

What part does the clinic play?

We have 17 different programs, [including] psychological services, therapy, counseling. It's part of the journey when you result to the States. We help them when they ne medication, and when they don't have the currency or the Medicaid to pay for it. To become citizens it takes time, ten years, thus who's going to pay attention to them?

Where do greatest in quantity Mexican migrants come from?

Seventy to 80 percent of of recent origin migrants come from little towns, villages, farms. For each job available [in Mexico], there are 20 candidates. Farming is not an option anymore. You have to have a tractor and equipment. If they [grow] pair tons of beans, at 2 peso for kilo, who is going to survive with that kind of profit? in such a manner they see the States as an option.

for what purpose was the Institute for Mexicans Abroad formed?

That was a proposition of President Fox At undivided time, the Mexican migrants were the forgotten individuals the ones who couldn't influence any positions the command made. [And] it's close to $15 billion that they send forth back to Mexico. I have my parents there. I delegate money every month.

[The Institute will] spread doors to leaders of the Mexican community in this political division so we can actually participate in the decision-making process

Do you think the Institute will be politically divided?

The protocols of this assemblage state that no political party can be busyed directly. [But] diversity can be a nerve I would support any proposition from anyone, regardless of political affiliation, if [it's] going to be advantageous for immigrants. We have in the same manner many problems, we cannot afford not to work together.

for what cause has the war against terrorism affected Mexican immigrants?

Before race 11, the two presidents got together [and] were talking about amnesty for all the undocumented. That was really an opportunity for us to say, 'Hey, great, this is the time.' And then generation 11 came, and the opportunity was not there anymore. Now it's homeland security and everything against terrorism. in such a manner people are in limbo to any extent.

I am remarkably concerned about these farmers in southern Arizona who arrest new immigrants who cros the border without papers. Sometimes they fire them, they injure them, they torture them, and no single is doing anything. We will ask our president to denounce these injustices.

President Bush lately said there could be an anti-Mexican backlash if Mexico did not support the war in Iraq. What was your reaction?

from not giving us the amnesty, this has already happened. What other can he do? I do believe Mexico should not be treated that way. unruffled here, people are divided upon whether or not we should invade Iraq. This is the freedom that this abiding habitation enjoys, and Mexico does, too.

[And] we hang so much on each other. Mexicans work forward farms for 4 or 5 beau; gays an hour. That's why we can afford to pervert with money [i]or[/i] gain everything we put on our table.

We estimate we have about 300000 race [in Illinois] without papers. We believe that the amnesty was going to give room for expectation [But] the United States is not allowing of recent origin initiatives. There are so many things going upon at the same time that we are not a priority. I behold this Institute as a blessing to bring back this issue.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Community Renewal Society

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group