Immigration Reform Gets U.S. in on Mexico's Boom
Immigration Reform Gets U.S. in on Mexico's Boom
Comprehensive immigration reform is imperative to tap into Mexico's economic growth, which is vital for U.S. competitiveness, writes Jason Marczak for CNN.
President Barack Obama will find that much has changed in Mexico when he arrives on May 2. Our neighbor to the South—and second-largest export market—has moved far ahead with reforms.
As Congress crafts comprehensive immigration legislation, Democrats and Republicans must keep in mind that Mexico is changing rapidly, and policies crafted to reflect yesterday's Mexico will not help the U.S. make the most of the potential of today's and tomorrow's Mexico.
Mexico's future is bright, and tapping into this growth and economic prosperity is vital to U.S. competitiveness. But the U.S. needs immigration reform to build on its huge bilateral trade with Mexico—more than $1 billion in goods and services each day, or $45 million an hour.
Mexico's President Enrique Peña Nieto has achieved in less than five months in office what eluded previous administrations for six years. In the second half of 2013, he hopes to add energy to the improvements in education and telecommunications that are sailing through under the umbrella of the Pact for Mexico political agreement....
