Immigration

Monday we begin a week long series on immigration. Two different countries and two different opinions. It's a topic that has been a hot issue this year. Nicole Sanchez recently visited the Del Rio/Mexico border and has more.
 
"The US itself it's a country of immigration and you can see that the statue of liberty has a welcoming message."

A welcoming message that many immigrants cross the border every day to the land of opportunity, acting Deputy Consul of Mexico/Del Rio Fernando Valdes says. And on this side of the border there are many different opinions on this issue.

"It's everywhere in the world, where there’s immigration you can see the benefits of both parts." Valdes oversees 12 counties with San Angelo being the largest city in his region. Many Mexican immigrants seek help to the Mexican Consulate with questions left unanswered.

"Being at the border most of the Mexican nationals that we serve are usually Mexican tourists or Mexican Americans or Mexican permanent residents and so we have a huge number of services that we proved and for the undocumented Mexicans we also give the advice on their rights under US Law," Valdes says.

One law that could have been passed to benefit immigrants was the senate immigration bill that was recently defeated.

"We were optimistic because it first seemed that there was enough momentum for a new law to be passed by the senate and many people was waiting for it. We think by doing this it's just procrastinating something that has to be dealed with an irrational sensitive matter and because they left things just as they are and we know there’s a problem."

On one side of the border, some illegals can earn more money in one hour than versus working one full day of wages, a mission that Valdes says the Mexican Government is in the works of slowly changing to keep their citizens.

"Mexican Government is working to create new jobs and more well paid jobs that prevent them and that by analyzing staying in Mexico with little less salary, but living in their own country. And being protected by law will be better than coming to the US and having a little bit more of an income but living without authorization of the US Government to work and live here,: Valdes explains.

Although several take that risk in crossing over to work and live here in America, Valdes explains why some take that chance.
 
"To find opportunity to have a better chance for their children, themselves when they are young so I think the US was built in that idea and part of this immigration of people come to find a better life,” Valdes says.