First Migrant Leader Takes Office in Mexican State
Pacific News Service, News Feature, Eduardo Stanley, Posted: Jan 26, 2005
Traducción al español
MORELIA, Michoacán (Mexico) -- Jesús Martínez Saldaña entered the legislature chambers timidly and smiled as he greeted his friends and family. Moments later, he was being sworn in as one of the 40 representatives of the 70th Legislature of the Mexican State of Michoacán.
This was the culmination of a long political process, initiated by groups of Michoacán natives in the United States and with the support of México's Party of the Democratic Revoltution (PRD) in Michoacán, which chose Martínez as their candidate of choice. Martínez has worked diligently with these organizations and citizens to develop a plan of action to be implemented during the next three years.
"I feel it is my personal responsibility to inform the public about the effects of immigration that many here and in the United States aren't aware of," said Martínez. Michoacán has about 4 million inhabitants, and another 2.5 million natives of Michoacán now live in the United States.
Martínez Saldaña was born 44 years ago in Santiago Conguripo, a suburb of Angamacutiro in the state of Michoacán. In 1969 he immigrated to the United States to join family members who were living in California. After graduating from the University of Santa Clara, he completed his master's and doctorate degrees at UC Berkeley. Once he was sworn in as a representative in the legislature, he resigned from his job as a professor at California State University in Fresno.
"I'm very happy, although it hurts to leave my family behind," he says. Like many immigrants, Martínez already has experience in the separation of families: his father left for California before moving his family to the United States. Now, his wife, son and his parents will stay in Fresno while Martínez lives in Mexico. The newest member of the legislature, however, will travel to the United States periodically for meetings and to keep in contact with his constituents.
His agenda includes giving Michoacán natives living outside of Mexico the right to vote in mexican elections, an initiative that was "frozen" in the last legislature by Mexico’s two other major political parties, the National Action Party (PAN) and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). He will also support a federal law that would allow every Mexican to vote in Mexico’s 2006 federal elections.
Other important issues on his agenda are to support educational and cultural
programs for Michoacán natives living in the United States, to implement health initiatives for migrant workers and to promote a relationship between local organizations on both sides of the border.
"He will be our voice in the local congress. Until now we have been practically non-existent," says José Manuel Correa, a native of Michoacán living in Chicago. Other Michoacán natives from Alaska, California, Nevada and Texas were present at Martínez Saldaña’s inauguration in the Mexican city of Morelia to lend their support, emphasizing the historic importance of electing someone to represent the migrant population.
"I trust that Dr. Jesús Martínez will make Michoacán residents more aware of immigration issues," said Claudio Méndez Fernández, 33, director of the government office General Coordination for the Attention of the Michoacán Migrant. Like Martínez, Méndez immigrated to the United States and returned to Mexico to participate in the local political process when Lázaro Cárdena Batel was elected governor of the state in 2002.
"I'm sure that Martínez' presence will be very important in advancing the cause of voting rights for Michoacán natives living abroad, especially now that we have other representatives of the PRD party who were also U.S. migrants," Michoacán Governor Cárdenas Batel said enthusiastically in an exclusive interview on January 13 in Morelia.
Cárdenas Batel, 40, is the son of Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Solórzano and grandson of the legendary general Lázaro Cárdenas.
Three years ago his political career led him to the governor's seat with his party, the PRD.
"My government could be considered leftist because it seeks social equality, equal access to education and jobs," he said. He added that private investors were needed to improve the economy.
Migration generates a huge market for regional products, which contribute to solidifying the socioeconomic relationship between Mexico and the United States.
"The participation of the migrant community in this development is fundamental," stated the governor. He said that his government seeks to channel part of the income from remittances by migrants living in the United States into lucrative investments for Michoacán. Migrants from Michoacán currently send more than 1.5 billion to their homes each year.
Agricultural projects financed by Michoacán natives abroad and government funding are now being developed in the cities of Zamora and Tierra Caliente. Other small industrial projects spearheaded by migrants living abroad are cropping up across the Mexican state.
With contributions from the economic sector comes political participation. Cárdenas Batel knows this and is actively promoting electoral rights for immigrants living abroad.
"I believe the presence of Jesús Martínez will be an important catalyst on
this issue."
Martínez, who became a member of the Migrant Issues Legislative Caucus on Jan. 17, will need to work hard for the migrant vote since his party does not represent a majority of Congress. There are 17 PRD representatives, 15 PRI members, six PAN members and one representative of the Worker's Party (PT) and the Green Party(PVEM).
In Morelia, Martínez may not feel too far away from California. The Mexican state capital is now populated with people of all ages who have emigrated to the United States and decided to return to their home state to start a new life -- including many members of the state's government. Full of plans, hopes and a desire for a better life, this new immigration wave is adding a new layer to the social and political structure of Michoacán.
Related Stories:
Mexican State Gains First Representative for California Migrants
Immigration < NCM Coverage
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