PUEBLA The National Governors Conference (Conago) on Sunday called on California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to reverse his decision to repeal a law that would allow illegal migrants the right to obtain a driver's license. Conago, which groups 20 governors from opposition parties, met privately with Jerónimo Gutiérrez, deputy secretary of Foreign Relations. Gutiérrez said the governors had asked to set up a meeting with organizations of Mexican migrants in California and also with Schwarzenegger to discuss the rights of undocumented migrants.
Last, week the Republican Gov. Schwarzenegger signed a bill that repealed a law that allowed undocumented migrants to obtain driver's licenses. The bill had been passed by former Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat, shortly before he was recalled from office. Democrats agreed to support Schwarzenegger's bill on the promise a compromise that better addressed security concerns would be passed.
Zacatecas Gov. Ricardo Monreal said the administration of President Vicente Fox had not fought hard enough to protect the rights of undocumented Mexicans living in the United States. Monreal, from the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) said Schwarzenegger's repeal of the law was a bad sign for undocumented migrants.
"This is not only a delicate subject, but it could bode a greater xenophobia and persecution against Mexicans and Latinos," Monreal said. "Now, under a right-wing government [undocumented migrants] could lose civil victories."
Monreal said he supported a protest movement in California and he called for "a day without Mexicans." Latino migrant organizations are working to bring about an economic strike on Dec. 12.
During their meeting with Gutiérrez, governors also asked for federal prosecutors to end the impunity of migrant smugglers working in Mexican states with high rates of migration. While it is illegal to traffic foreigners through Mexico to the United States, it is not illegal for Mexicans to traffic fellow Mexicans.
