May 20, 2010 Calderon Criticism of Arizona Law Overlooks Mexico's Tough Immigration Policy Mexican President Felipe Calderon has been ripping into Arizona's immigration law as he tours Washington -- while appearing to disregard the way his own country cracks down on immigrants along Mexico's southern border. Mexican President Felipe Calderon has been ripping into Arizona's immigration law as he tours Washington -- while appearing to disregard the way his own country cracks down on immigrants along Mexico's southern border. Mexico repeatedly has been cited by human rights groups for abusing or turning a blind eye to the abuse of migrants from Central America. Until recently, Mexican law made illegal immigration a criminal offense -- anyone arrested for the violation could be fined, imprisoned for up to two years and deported. Mexican lawmakers changed that in 2008 to make illegal immigration a civil violation like it is in the United States, but their law still reads an awful lot like Arizona's. Arizona's policy, which Calderon derided on Wednesday as "discriminatory" and assailed again on Thursday, requires law enforcement to try to determine the immigration status of anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant -- provided they are already in contact with that person. They can't randomly stop people and demand papers and the law prohibits racial profiling. The Mexican law also states that law enforcement officials are "required to demand that foreigners prove their legal presence in the country before attending to any issues." Calderon, who addressed members of Congress Thursday morning, was facing criticism on Capitol Hill for his remarks. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, called Calderon's comments inappropriate. "It's a little bit like inviting a guest over for dinner and then having them criticize the food," he told Fox News. Smith wrote Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday to complain that Mexican officials have "crossed the line and are interfering in the internal affairs of the United States." Calderon said Wednesday that his country would retain its "firm rejection" of a policy where "people that work and provide things to this nation will be treated as criminals." The comments came just weeks after Amnesty International issued a report claiming illegal immigrants in Mexico -- typically from Central America -- face abuse, rape and kidnappings, and that Mexican police do little to stop it. When illegal immigration was a criminal offense in Mexico, officials were known to seek bribes from suspects to keep them out of jail. President Obama joined Calderon in criticizing the Arizona policy on Wednesday. He is trying to build support for a comprehensive federal immigration overhaul. --------------------------------------------- Let's look at how our friends in Mexico treat illegal immigrants and resident aliens, with references to the Mexican Constitution. Foreigners are admitted into Mexico "according to their possibilities of contributing to the national progress" (Article 32) Immigration officials must "ensure" that "immigrants will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their substenance" and for their dependents (Article 34) Foreigners may be barred from the country if their presence upsets "the equilibrium of the national demographics," when foreigners are deemed detrimental to "economic or national interests", when they do not behave like good citizens of their own country, when they have broken Mexican laws, and when "they are not found to be physically or metally healthy" (Article 37) Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request, i.e., to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants (Article 73) A National Population Registry keeps track of "every single individual who comprises the population of the country" and verifies each individual's identity for international aliens (Article 85 & 86) A national Catalog of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and immigrants (Article 87) and assigns each individual with a unique tracking number (Article 91) Foreigners with faked immigration papers may be fined and/or imprisoned (Article 116) Foreigners who sign government documents "with a signature that is false or differnet from the one he normally uses" are subject to a fine AND imprisonment (Article 116) Foreigners who are deported from Mexico and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years (Article 118) "A penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of three hundred to five thousand pesos WILL BE imposed on foreigners who enters the country illegally" (Article 123) A Mexican who marries a foreigner with the sole objective of helping the foreigner live in the country is subject to up to five years in prison (Article 127) It is also illegal for a foreigner to participate in any protest or movement that is against the government of Mexico and is punishable by a prison term. Mexico requires that any American entering Mexico must be in possession of TWO forms of I.D., passport and one other photo I.D. Americans, and other nationalities, are not allowed to travel to the interior of Mexico without a permit which can only be obtained at the Mexican counselate. The fee for the travel permit is $10 in American dollars (to be paid for only in pesos) which can be obtained at the bank located next to the counselate. It must be paid for in cash, is good for a maximum of 180 days and must be carried on the person at all times while in Mexico. In order to enter Mexico with a vehicle, you will be required to purchase auto insurance IN MEXICO as U.S. insurance is not accepted. To be able to work in Mexico you must: prove that the job is not capable of being done by a Mexican citizen have a letter from your bank proving you are capable of being self supporting or show bank statements that prove you have had deposits of $1000.00 U.S. per month, including an equal amount for each dependent. Children of foreigners cannot attend Mexican public schools unless they are fluent in Spanish.
