Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973–1976

82. Telegram 8137 From the Embassy in Mexico to the Department of State¹

Mexico City, September 15, 1975, 1913Z.

8137. Subject: Illegal Immigrants: Conversation With Barona Lobato. Ref Mexico 7770.

1. Pol Counselor this morning met with Assistant Legal Advisor of Foreign Secretariat, Barona Lobato, for exchange of views and current information on illegals issue.

2. EmbOff inquired about possible meetings of respective commisions or perhaps preliminary meeting of a few members from each side. Barona was completely noncommittal as to Mexican attitude. He explained that he must consult with Foreign Secretary Rabasa because “this was a political matter,” particularly “in light of President Echeverria’s comments” in his Sept. 1 address. He had been unable to see Rabasa because of latter’s busy schedule; Barona apologized for long delay in answering Embassy note on subject of commission meeting.

3. EmbOff referred to change in GOM position announced by President Echeverria last October, i.e. that Mexico would no longer solicit a new bracero agreement. In light of that change, Emboff asked Barona on entirely informal basis what he now considered primary GOM objectives on illegals issue. Barona replied (at length) that a primary objective or aspiration was some U.S. measure to regularize status of Mexicans who have been in U.S. illegally “for three or four or more years.” He also detailed his personal views on the desirability of establishing “labor rights” as well as the sanctity of human rights for “undocumented migrant workers.” He mentioned GOM efforts to develop this concept in ILO and UN, and described it as a concept of global, not merely bilateral significance. If Mexican illegals might have their status regularized, either through administrative measure or via legislation, the GOM, he thought, might in return be more understanding of “energetice” [“energetic”] U.S. measures taken to block flow of new illegals. Finally, he said still expressing personal opinion, roots of the illegal migration problem might more effectively be attacked if soft loans and some technological assistance were made available to Mexico for the long-range purpose of developing more jobs for would-be migrants. (Comment: This is to the Embassy’s knowledge first time GOM official has raised possibility of U.S. material assistance on this issue even on an informal basis.)

4. EmbOff inquired about President’s statements in his informe (see reftel). Barona was somewhat shamefaced and obviously had no satisfactory answer with respect to President’s reported comments on unacceptable U.S. conditions for a new bracero agreement. He suggested possibility that Echeverria reference might have been to private conversations between two Presidents at border last October. EmbOff pointed out, however, that Echeverria’s switch on bracero issue occurred some days before meeting. In the end Barona made clear that final draft of President’s address was not cleared with him and had been prepared in Presidency. EmbOff did not press issue.

5. Comment: Barona, though well-meaning and likable, is almost impossible to stimulate to action or decision. In order to obtain scanty information set forth above, EmbOff had to endure once again over an hour of Barona’s historical-sociological-philosophical theorizing on the nature of illegals problem, differences in agricultural techniques among Mexicans, Swiss, Japanese, etc. Reliable source close to the Secretary of Labor (represented on Mexican interagency committee Barona heads) told EmbOff that SecLabor extremely unhappy with Barona’s leadership. It seems most unlikely that GOM will move forward rapidly in its consideration of this issue so long as Barona occupies key position. It may well be, however, that this is precisely the reason Barona fills that position.

Jova

1. Summary: In a meeting with an Embassy officer, Mexican Foreign Secretariat Legal Advisor Barona Lobato outlined the Mexican Government’s objectives on the illegal immigration issue.

   Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, D750321–0072. Limited Official Use. All brackets are in the original except “[‘energetic’]”, added for clarity. In telegram 7770 from Mexico City, September 2, the Embassy reported that Echeverría stated in a September 1 address that the conditions proposed for a bracero agreement with the United States were “incompatible with the interest of Mexico.” (Ibid., D750304–0430) In a September 3 letter to Luers, Estep noted that “it may well be that the closer the Mexicans look at the problem, the more convinced they are that the present situation is the best of all possible worlds and that extensive exchange with the U.S. Commission might cause more problems than it would solve.” (Ibid., ARA/MEX Files: Lot 77D264, V–11–3 Illegal Immigrants, September-October 1975)