Maybe he ought to just shut the hell up

Mexican President Felipe Calderón is miffed at US presidential candidates for "demonizing" Mexican immigrants and even announced that his country would "finance a public relations campaign aimed at reversing Americans’ negative perceptions":

At a conference Wednesday of the Advisory Council of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad, the government’s immigrant assistance agency, Calderón lashed out at the “increasing harassment” and “persecution” of Mexicans in the United States, those there legally as well as illegally.

“My duty is to make an appeal, respectfully but firmly, to the candidates of the various political parties in the United States to stop making Mexicans symbolic hostages in their speeches and their strategies,” Calderón said.

I have an idea: Maybe we oughta treat Mexican [illegal] immigrants just like Mexico treats its illegal immigrants. Check out what the Mexican Constitution provides for:

• Pursuant to Article 33, "Foreigners may not in any way participate in the political affairs of the country." This ban applies, among other things, to participation in demonstrations and the expression of opinions in public about domestic politics like those much in evidence in Los Angeles, New York and elsewhere in recent days.
• Equal employment rights are denied to immigrants, even legal ones.
• Jobs for which Mexican citizenship is considered "indispensable" include, pursuant to Article 32, bans on foreigners, immigrants, and even naturalized citizens of Mexico serving as military officers, Mexican-flagged ship and airline crew, and chiefs of seaports and airports.
• Article 55 denies immigrants the right to become federal lawmakers.
• Foreigners, to say nothing of illegal immigrants, are denied fundamental property rights.
• Article 11 guarantees federal protection against "undesirable aliens resident in the country." What is more, private individuals are authorized to make citizen's arrests.
• The Mexican constitution states that foreigners - not just illegal immigrants - may be expelled for any reason and without due process.

And let's go with current events, too: Does Mexico allow illegal immigrants residing there to get drivers licenses? Of course not.

All of Mexico's 31 states, along with Mexico City, require foreigners to present a valid visa if they want a driver's license, according to a survey of states by The Arizona Republic.

"When it comes to foreigners, we're a little more strict here," said Alejandro Ruíz, director of education at the Mexican Automobile Association. (Link.)

So here's what I say to Presidente Calderón: Cállese.

Posted by Hube at November 15, 2007 09:22 PM | TrackBack