AMERICA/MEXICO - The meeting between the Presidents of the United States and Mexico is a "historic opportunity" to solve the drama of emigration

Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - The event of the week, that is to say today's meeting at the White House, President-elect of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, with U.S. President Barack Obama will meet to address various bilateral issues, including efforts of both governments to "create a secure and effective border," and the editorial of the weekly magazine of the Archdiocese of Mexico "Desde la Fe" is dedicated this event, a copy of which was sent to Fides Agency.
The Archdiocese offers a reflection on this event linking it to Pope Benedict XVI’s Message for the World Day of Migrants, in which the Pope focuses on the hope that millions of people have to find acceptance, solidarity and aid in other countries, given the few development opportunities they can enjoy in their country of origin.
The text of the editorial continues: "What will emerge from this meeting will also have a strong impact on the government of President Peña Nieto, to build a long-term project, with imagination and courage to transform what would otherwise be an irreparable failure, considering the Mexicans living in the United States and their descendants, will become, to the extent that they continue to maintain their ties with Mexico, a social, political and economic component of great importance."
The editorial then points out the urgent tasks of the two countries: for the U.S.A., a reform of the law on migration that is able to change the immigration policy and the regularization of those who live underground; Mexico must work to solve the problems that lead the population to emigrate, such as violence and the lack of jobs, as well as provide an environment in which social justice and equality contribute to the country's development. If the meeting fails in this regard, the editorial stresses, "in the next few years we will see a flow of irregular people in more extreme and dangerous conditions, a great family break-up, and more than seven million undocumented Mexicans who will live in uncertainty in vulnerability and exploitation, exposed to imprisonment, deportation, discrimination and violation of their individual rights." The text concludes: "The Holy Father’s message today has two recipients: Mexico and the U.S.A., whose leaders have a historic opportunity. Let us hope they will take advantage of it." (CE) (Agenzia Fides 27/11/2012)