By now, you’ve already heard about Arizona’s controversial new immigration law. Shortly after it was passed Mexican President Felipe Calderon called it “racial discrimination” and a “violation of human rights.”
Given those accusations, many people assumed that Mexico’s immigration laws are more lenient than Arizona’s. But are they? Well, you be the judge.
First, let’s quickly recap Arizona’s new law:
– Being in Arizona illegally is a state crime.
– When a local police officer has reasonable suspicion that a person is in the US illegally, he’s required to investigate the immigration status of that person.
– When a local police officer finds a person in the US illegally, he has the authority to “securely transport” the alien into federal custody inside or outside of Arizona.
– Anyone can sue any local agency or official who implements a policy that limits or restricts the enforcement of federal immigration law.
Now, let’s take a look at Mexico’s immigration laws.
According to Reglamento de la Ley General Poblacion—Mexico’s population and immigration law passed in 2000—the federal, local, and municipal police must work with federal immigration authorities to arrest illegal immigrants.
Article 67 says “Authorities, whether federal, state or municipal are required to demand that foreigners prove their legal presence in the country before attending to any issues.”
Illegal immigration is a felony in Mexico, and if convicted, an illegal immigrant can be sent to prison for up to two years. But that’s not all. Deported immigrants who try to return to Mexico can actually be punished with a 10 year prison sentence, and those who violate their Visa can be thrown in prison for up to six years. Also, any Mexican citizen who helps an illegal immigrant could face criminal charges.
Other key points you should know about Mexico’s immigration laws:
– Foreigners who are considered a threat to economic or national interests can be deported.
– Those foreigners who don’t have the “necessary funds for their sustenance” may be deported.
– Foreigners can’t be a burden to taxpayers, so there is no welfare, food stamps, healthcare, or other government assistance.
– Foreigners may not protest or have any demonstrations. This can lead to deportation.
– Citizenship is granted on a basis “according to (the immigrant’s) possibilities of contributing to national progress.”
– Naturalized Mexicans (those granted citizenship by means other than birth) may not hold dual citizenship and can’t run for most government posts.
Tougher than Arizona’s?
So are Mexico’s immigration laws tougher than Arizona’s? And even if they are, does it really matter?
Note: Thanks to the Washington Times and Slate for their information on these laws.
24 comments
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Illegal aliens are still illegal because Corporate America wants it that way. Do you honestly believe that companies WANT to pay them good wages, take out taxes, provide benefits and workmens comp? No. They want the taxpayers to provide these things. They want what they've always wanted: Cheap Labor. Tell companies that they can keep the illegals, but it will cost them an extra $20,000 per year to have them. Then see what happens.
mike
land of the free for citizen not illegals
S. Mader
WOW! Rightously said brother!!!
Realistic American
WOW, some of you people just dont get it, YES, this nation was founded by immigrants....LEGAL immigrants! YES AZ has passed a law that sould have been a long time coming...YES many of you, hispanics it seems have an issue with this...NO this is not about race!.It is about law breakers period of any nationality!!...Alejandra, your ignorance is bliss, those ILLEGALS shouldnt even be in the fields or construction and I can assure you I can fill any of those jobs with a LEGAL WHITE OR OTHER AMERICAN the same day....Pride has gone out the window in todays economy and arrogant Americans now know that...I am of Polish decent and still have the papers from my great grandparents coming here as LEGAL IMMIGRANTS!!!...NO ONE is saying you cant come to America to better yourself or your family, you just have to do it LEGALLY.
There is no reason Americans who have been born here for generations are unable to get substantial medical care or other that ILLEGAL Aliens are getting. Dont even starton me about the programs available for them, if you EDUCATE yourself before speaking and look at what is available to ILLEGALS they are taken care of better than a legal citizen. AGAIN...educate yourself before you even choose to respond.
Know this...if a Nation sits around and fears to take care of iteself for fear of "stepping on peoples toes" or "offending" people for doing what is BEST for the country it is doomed to go down in ruins. ARIZONA said we will not stand idly by and allow OUR STATE to fail. For this I COMMEND AZ!!
BOTTOM LINE is thie...if you dont like the law, LEAVE AZ!...if you dont agree with the law that is OK, it is the US and you are entitled to your opinion!...If you think it is better anywhere else, please by all means go there!!..if you are here ILLEGALLY, leave you are breaking the law!..if you would like to follow protocol as immigrants of yesyeryear did come back and you will be welcomed back with open arms as an AMERICAN CITIZEN and I personally praise you for that!!
This is all pretty clearly stated, like it or not it is the law!!! I hope AMERICANS wake up to this.. oh and one other thing, I am proud of my heritage of more proud to be an AMERICAN!! If you are that proud of your mexican decent or other and think its ok to fly your flag here..go back to your mother land and stay the hell out!!!
CPL Diaz
As a legal citizen born in the United States (Indiana, to be precise), of Mexican descent, a military veteran, and a student of history, you have points that are valid. Quite valid, indeed. But, before you decide to take issue with people having pride in their heritage and flying a foreign flag if they so choose (in this case, the Mexican one), let me hearken your memory back to a period in America's past.
Purely out of the unjustified, frankly near-fascist ideal of "Manifest Destiny", the United States entered into a territorial dispute and later full war with its neighbor to the South. The object of the conflict was little more than a land-grab. The hypocrisy of it all was blatant, coming from a nation that produced the Monroe Doctrine after having itself revolted against an imperialistic European monarchy. Mexico had been independent little more than a handful of years, only to have its sovereignty trampled upon by its neighboring nation which had also been a colonial holding not a hundred years prior.
None of this is a justification for violating the rule of law. Not even the systematic and decidedly amoral cheating of many of the people already living in that territory after war's end by English-speaking settlers. Or the fact that the basis of so much of what we have here in the United States, and the laurels that our own nation sits upon are built on theft. However, it does put things into perspective. How much have we outright stolen from others? Is it any wonder that so many other nations see us as an imperial power? And what right does that leave us to look upon the illegal as a dog to be shot in the street?
In brutal honesty, the original founders of this nation were crooks and thugs. It just so happens that they succeeded and determined the manner in which their accomplishments were recorded. History is truly written by the victor. As for going anywhere else, well I won't be doing that. This is my country, thank you, else I would not have fought for her and her people. Yet if you ask me to be blind to our flaws and failures, you can kindly go to Hell. Or open your own eyes. That is a choice we all have. Being a patriot is one thing. Being blind and a fool is simply ignorant.
To close, none of that is a justification (as I stated before). However, take this in the context that in all honesty, we stole that land from Mexico in any case. Putting on these airs of unchallenged entitlement merely shows one's own ass. And again, please note that this is coming from a natural-born citizen, who came from legally-naturalized parents. We have a lot more pressing concerns in this epoch of our history than a few fruit-pickers, toilet-cleaners, construction-workers and the like who, in many cases DO take jobs which even fully-eligible LEGAL citizens will not. Even in spite of our economic downturn. Seriously. Wake up and concentrate on how we will secure a future for our children in terms of economy and national security. And please don't cite the cartel activity as a threat to the latter. We have far worse enemies afoot that need to be completely dealt with first. PRIORITIZE, people.
CPL Diaz