I’m going to deviate from the subject I normally cover on this blog and discuss current events.
As pretty much everyone knows by now, the governor of Arizona recently signed legislation relating to illegal immigration. There has been loud and, at times, violent opposition to the law. Some of the strongest voices against the law come from Mexico – in fact, the Mexican government has condemned the law and issued a travel advisory informing its citizens about it. Perhaps misinformed would be the proper term, but that’s another topic for another day.
The Arizona law allows state and local law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of people they stop or detain for probable cause – not for probable cause of being brown, but, say, having a broken taillight or for speeding. You know, stuff that you’ll already get pulled over for. There are exceptions for victims of crime or those reporting crimes – that is, if a Hispanic woman tells a police officer that she’s been raped, immigration status is not relevant.
This has infuriated the Mexican government. Why, then, is the title of this blog post “The Hypocrisy of Mexico”? Well, Article 67 of Mexico’s Population Law states, “Authorities, whether federal, state or municipal … are required to demand that foreigners prove their legal presence in the country, before attending to any issues.”
In other words, if an American woman had illegally crossed into Mexico and was raped, Mexican authorities would be more concerned with her immigration status than the fact that she had been assaulted.
While the above situation is quite rare, it is common for people from Central America who are traveling through Mexico on their way to the United States to be harassed by Mexican law enforcement authorities, as the AP article describes.
So I ask you – which government treats illegal immigrants with more respect and dignity…Arizona or Mexico? When I hear of Arizona law enforcement officials stealing the belongings of illegal immigrants and leaving them to be assaulted by roving bands of human predators, I might change my mind. Until then, the answer is pretty clear to me.
Right on my friend.
While you have a valid point, I think you’re overlooking the central theme of the controversy (whether deliberately or otherwise).
The Arizona law isn’t about relations with Mexico, it’s about state and local law enforcement being given considerably more latitude when dealing with suspected illegal immigrants.
In essence, the controversy is about what basic civil rights are afforded regardless of citizenship and the perception of a growing “police state” mentality. Mexico, as a nation, is at best tangential.
(Please note that I have tried very hard not to be argumentative as to whether the legislation is “right” or “wrong”, I’m simply saying that the people upset about this law don’t give a crap what the Mexican government thinks)
Chicago
I live in Arizona and am thrilled with the law. Considering all the crimes related to the illegals I feel safer since the feds have NO INTEREST in protecting the citizens of the US, let alone Arizona.
Just hours ago a sheriff’s deputy was shot in the abdomen by illegals in a county just north of me, of course Robert Krentz (the rancher) was shot and killed by illegals weeks ago, and a few days ago an ill illegal woman was pushed out of a car by coyotes…she died, her son had to call for help.
Please don’t tell me about latitude…I see illegals almost daily where I work.
It seems that many who oppose this law or any serious attempt at immigration reform intentionally forget the fact that we are talking about people who broke the law in coming here. I have no problem with LEGAL immigration. However, when a person shows a total disregard for the laws of this country, I do have a problem with that.