Texas Rep. Timoteo "Timo" Garza on North American integration

[Garza] offered to help U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchinson find solutions to the problems created by the proposed implementation of the U.S. VISIT (Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) Program...

..."Implementation of the U.S. VISIT program will have a devastating impact on the economy of Texas, specifically the border area," stated Representative Garza. South West Texas public officials, merchants, chambers of commerce and bank representatives met this week in an informative session on the U.S. VISIT program. The group listened to a presentation, by IBC Bank officials, detailing the U.S. VISIT Program and it's impact, on Border economies...

..."Our European allies reap the benefits of a European Union which offers its citizens globally competitive educations, health care, multi-lingual/multi-cultural domestic policies and solid unified trade practices," added the Representative. "We need to take a page from their success, and we must begin to solidify our North American Partnership into a streamlined-global economic force, free of migratory barriers, free of cultural divisiveness, and uniquely positioned to attract jobs and industry. The current U.S. VISIT Program moves the US away from such a vision," stated Representative Garza.

Representative Garza praised Texas Senator John Cornyn, for his editorial comments in an excellent article titled, "Guests Who Pose No Threat," in the Washington Post, November 17, 2003. In it Senator Cornyn states, "I am convinced that we must finally recognize the truth about our border with Mexico. Everyday families, businesses and workers cross the border. They own property... They marry... They raise families and fill jobs that in many cases go unfilled in the United States. We can no longer deny both the sheer number of undocumented immigrants in our country and the extent to which their labor makes a positive contribution to our economy."

...Representative Garza thanked Mayor Joaquin Rodriguez and Judge Jose "Pepe" Aranda for their active participation in Monday night's meeting. He also thanked Hector Cerna, IBC Bank President and Marga Lopez, MCDC Executive Director for sponsoring the presentation. He complimented the Border Trade Alliance and the Texas Border Infrastructure Coalition for their efforts in raising public awareness of this issue.

NAU · Wed, 09/13/2006 - 01:05 · Importance: 1