Since the publication of a study that revealed 71% of undocumented Mexicans living in the United States would participate in the temporary work program proposed by President George W. Bush on January 7, 2004, certain organizations which represent Mexicans have issued warnings about the way the results have been interpreted.

The executive director of the Tepeyac Association of New York, Joe Magallanes, advised against misinterpreting the results by thinking that Mexicans are in agreement with the President’s plan.

“We accept a temporary program, provided that we still have the option of seeking permanent residency. We understand that the main enemy is our [Mexican] government, because they want to solve the unemployment problem by sending our compatriots to the United States, and bring temporary benefits to the country through workers sending money home.”

The Pew Hispanic Center poll of 4,836 undocumented Mexicans, revealed that 42 percent want to stay in the United States as long as possible, and 17 percent want to stay for the rest of their lives. Further, the study shows that 27 percent will stay in this country “at least five years and afterwards return to their native country.”

Kevin O’Neil, an analyst with the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, pointed out that “the new numbers don’t hold many surprises. A temporary program cannot solve the problem of undocumented immigration.”

Still, Roberto Soru, Director of the Pew Hispanic Center, told the press yesterday that the study also sought to corroborate important data about the Mexican community, saying additionally that Mexican immigrants “are [at] the heart of the United States economy because they [work in everything from] tourism to home construction, so the image of the Mexican who only cleans houses or works in the fields is erroneous.”

Another fact that was clarified, according to Soru, is that the Mexican community in Los Angeles is more established than the one in New York, which is home to more young immigrants.

For his part, the Undersecretary of Mexico’s Foreign Relations Ministry, Gerónimo Gutiérrez, said the point of the study was to promote greater objectivity in the immigration debate, and that the Mexican government helped the Pew Hispanic Center with the poll at seven consulates, in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Raleigh, Dallas, and Fresno.

President Bush’s immigration plan proposes granting temporary work permits to undocumented immigrants in the U.S. or to a person outside the country who solicits the right to work legally in the country. The permit would be for an initial three years with the possibility of renewal. Nonetheless, the White House has not said how often or for how long the permits can be renewed. The applicant within the U.S. must show proof that she/he has a job, while an applicant from outside the country must have a job offer. Once the term of the permit is up, the worker must return to her/his country of origin.