Mexican Immigrants Feel War Repercussions

By: Brian J. RogalMost Americans experience war in the Middle East as a television spectacle. But 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 out 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, but his vocation remained. Each year, his center helps thousands of immigrants get treatment for psychological problems like depression and anxiety that commonly afflict uprooted people.

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

On March 20, the advisory council met with President Vicente Fox and other Mexican leaders. They asked his administration to continue pushing the United States on amnesty, take action on a recent string of unsolved murders of migrants crossing the Arizona desert, and allow migrants to vote 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 looked at the psychological impact that people were going through—especially the times where they’re losing their jobs, 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 role does the clinic play?
We have 17 different programs, [including] psychological services, therapy, counseling. It’s part of the journey when you come to the States. We help them when they need medication, and when they don’t have the money or the Medicaid to pay for it. To become citizens it takes time, ten years, so who’s going to pay attention to them?

Where do most Mexican migrants come from?
Seventy to 80 percent of new migrants come from little towns, villages, farms. For every 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] two tons of beans, at 2 pesos per kilo, who is going to survive with that kind of profit? So they see the States as an option.

Why was the Institute for Mexicans Abroad formed?
That was a proposition of President Fox. At one time, the Mexican migrants were the forgotten ones, the ones who couldn’t influence any positions the government made. [And] it’s close to $15 billion that they send back to Mexico. I have my parents there. I send money every month.

[The Institute will] open doors to leaders of the Mexican community in this country, so we can actually participate in the decision-making process.

Do you think the Institute will be politically divided?
The protocols of this group state that no political party can be employed directly. [But] diversity can be a strength. I would support any proposition from anyone, regardless of political affiliation, if [it’s] going to be good for immigrants. We have so many problems, we cannot afford not to work together.

How has the war against terrorism affected Mexican immigrants?
Before Sept. 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 Sept. 11 came, and the opportunity was not there anymore. Now it’s homeland security and everything against terrorism. So people are in limbo to some extent.

I am very concerned about these farmers in south Arizona who arrest new immigrants who cross the border without papers.

Sometimes they shoot them, they injure them, they torture them, and no one is doing anything. We will ask our president to denounce these injustices.

President Bush recently said there could be an anti-Mexican backlash if Mexico did not support the war in Iraq. What was your reaction?
By not giving us the amnesty, this has already happened. What else can he do? I do believe Mexico should not be treated that way.

Even here, people are divided on whether or not we should invade Iraq. This is the freedom that this country enjoys, and Mexico does, too.

[And] we depend so much on each other. Mexicans work on farms for 4 or 5 bucks an hour. That’s why we can afford to buy everything we put on our table.

We estimate we have about 300,000 people [in Illinois] without papers. We believe that the amnesty was going to give hope. [But] the United States is not allowing new initiatives. There are so many things going on at the same time that we are not a priority. I see this Institute as a blessing to bring back this issue.