Bill Gates backs immigration reform on Mexico trip

[OhioChick]

Source: Reuters

Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:57AM EDT

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, the world's richest man, said on Tuesday the United States should reform its immigration laws and give more flexibility to higher-skilled foreign workers.

Speaking at a conference in Mexico, the birthplace of millions of immigrants to the United States, Gates said reforms "would be helpful so we are predictable, so we are clear."

"I'm a big believer that as much as possible, and there's obviously political limitations, freedom of migration is a good thing," Gates told reporters.

<snip> In a recent address to a U.S. Senate committee, Gates said scientists and engineers from India and China working at his giant software firm routinely waited more than five years to get a U.S. green card.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN2024750720070321

[OhioChick]

1. Bill Gates feted with highest Mexican award

< 21 Mar, 2007 1210hrs ISTIANS >


MEXICO CITY: Mexican President Felipe Calderon awarded Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda with the country's highest decoration for foreigners.

Calderon on Tuesday awarded the Aztec Eagle to Gates-the world's richest person worth an estimated $56 billion-for "prominent services to the nation" delivered by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Last year, the foundation donated $30 million to Mexico for computers and software. Matched by local governments, the funds helped buy 15,000 computers and equip more than 2,700 libraries across the country.

Receiving the award, Gates vowed to continue supporting education in Mexico. His wife was not present at the ceremony.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bill_Gates_feted_with_highest_Mexican_award/articleshow/1787142.cms

Does he ever "support" education in the US?

[sam sarrha]

2. how about him building some some technology training centers in our own collages with scholarships

for the poor, he is really turning into a despicable person.. ahhh..maybe just getting worse :shrug:

[Kolesar]

3. We need bush &Congress to complete an immigration "amnesty" for the Mexicans before bush is finished

...for good. I would rather have a Republ'an "President" carry the responsibility for this issue before the Democrats take over for the next X number of years.

edit:Use the new cover sheet for your report.

[pampango]

4. I agree with the wisdom of having a Republican do this,

but much of the support for it will have to come from us, won't it? His party seems less likely to provide him with much support. What kind of a deal can we work out with him that includes "amnesty", by some other name, of course?

[Kolesar]

5. In my dreams, we would just have bill establishing guest-worker priveledges

An accomodation for the ~13 million Mexicans already in America and an accomodation for new entrants to be able to come to America through the real entry points. Our two countries could accomplish shutting down the human-smuggling racket and take a funding source away from organized crime. I have a notion that this would help us control the amount of contraband or number of felons coming across the border.

To tell the truth, I don't know the length of this policy.

[eagler]

6. too many jobs already going to immigrants in this country

[pampango]

8. So you are in the "keep 'em all out" category?

None of the "Americans won't do the work", "nation of immigrants", "what about your ancestors?", "melting pot ("tossed salad") slogans work for you?

[eagler]

9. Nope not at all but the current situation has been used by

corporate America to destroy unions and a look around at real life cements my opinion. It makes absolutely nosense to be shipping jobs out and bringing workers in. I favor amnesty for some say 5 years here. the rest need to go.

[pampango]

7. I tend to agree.

We would have to call it something besides a "guest worker program." That is too associated with Bush.

Something along those lines, coupled with an "accommodation" for those immigrants already here, seems to be the middle ground that is the only possible solution. There would have to be tight controls both to insure that immigrant workers were actually required for particular jobs and to be sure that they were not exploited while they were working here.

The alternatives seem to be to leave the system as it is (as dysfunctional as that sounds, it might actually appeal to some since it means almost unlimited immigration and an opportunity for some politicians to exploit the issue), keep everyone out through enhanced border security and employer sanctions, or let everyone in through some kind of "open borders" policy (which I don't know that anyone is actually advocating.)

This is such a political minefield that I imagine many politicians will ignore it, if possible. While it won't go away, they probably hope that it, at least, drops off the radar screen for a while.

[gravity]

10. Bill Gates just wants highly skilled workers

If there is a shortage in America, he wants to import them. They are still being paid high wages, he just wants his workers from India and China to come to America to work. The opposite of outsourcing.

[ChromeFoundry]

11. Not highly skilled....

those cost too much.

He wants semi-skilled workers that he can assimilate on the cheap.

[ben_meyers]

12. Directly opposed by UFW

Cesar Chavez, founder of the United Farm Workers, fought against and knew the ill effects of illegal immigration on union wages in this country. Cesar was an american farm worker and should be a hero to those who fight for workers rights. We need to control the borders.