Reality Check: Memo from Mexico

[Double A]

Memo From Mexico,  By  Allan Wall
More Hypocrisy: How Mexico Handles Its Own Illegal Immigration

How are Central Americans treated in Mexico? Just fine, according to President Vicente Fox,

"Every year more than 250,000 Central Americans cross the [Mexican] border. They are treated with respect, and are offered a better place to stay and new opportunities." [Newsflash: HR4437 Rejected!—By Mexico's Meddling Government]

But Jose Luis Soberanes, president of the CNDH (National Commission of Human Rights) doesn't agree with Fox.

Soberanes has reported that Central American and even Mexican migrants in Mexico are subject to abuse at the hands of police and military personnel, and that immigrants are detained in municipal prisons.

According to Soberanes, "the Mexican government mistreats 'indocumentados' that cross its territory, it keeps them in jails, in overcrowded conditions, many times without food, without medical attention and overall, violating their human rights."

Mauricio Farath, another CNDH official, reported that in some Mexican states, Central Americans "go to the municipal jails, where they stay for days and weeks. In some small rooms there are dozens of them and they do not separate the men and the women." [CNDH: Aquí se criminaliza a los ilegales, Victor Ballinas Enviado, December 21st, 2005]

Later, Jose Luis Soberanes put it this way

"We demand that they [Americans] treat us well, and we are incapable of treating Central Americans well."

[Exigimos que a nosotros nos traten bien, y somos incapaces de tratar bien a los centroamericanos.] (Presidente promete 'pelear' por los paisanos by Jose Luis Ruiz, Universal, March 29th, 2006)

In 2005, Mexico detained 240, 269 illegal aliens in its territory. Of that total, 42% were from Guatemala, 33% from Honduras, with most of the rest being from El Salvador.

All three of those countries are poorer than Mexico (more on that later).

I recall some years ago in the state of Quintana Roo in southeastern Mexico. There were quite a few Guatemalans on the bus I was traveling on. At a checkpoint, the Guatemalans were unceremoniously yanked off the bus and their papers rifled through. It seemed like an everyday occurrence.

Mexico is certainly within its rights to control its own immigration policy. Mexico has the right to detain and deport illegal aliens. (For that matter, Mexico has the right to expel legal aliens if it so desires).

According to Mexico's Ley General de Población, Article 123, illegal aliens can be fined and sentenced to up to two years in prison.

"Se impondrá pena hasta de dos años de prisión y multa de trescientos y cinco mil pesos, al extranjero que se interne ilegalmente al pais. "

Usually though, they're just deported, as Article 125 allows. [PDF]

The Mexican immigration agency is the INM—Instituto Nacional de Migracion). But it is not the only agency that enforces immigration law. The Mexican military helps. And so do local Mexican police. In fact, by law, all Mexican police, regardless of unit or level, are required to enforce immigration law.  

(On that point, we could surely learn from Mexico).

Enforcing the law is one thing, abuse of authority is another. And that's what frequently happens to Central Americans in Mexico. The illegal aliens are victims of both corrupt authorities and private criminals. Corrupt officials often shake them down for bribes. Some are robbed, raped or even murdered. Not much is done about it.

In a recent AP piece Mark Stevenson reports that

"Undocumented Central American migrants complain much more about how they are treated by Mexican officials than about authorities on the U.S. side of the border, where migrants may resent being caught but often praise the professionalism of the agents scouring the desert for their trail." [Few Protections for Migrants to Mexico, AP April 19th, 2006]

Most illegal Central Americans enter Mexico to pass through to the United States. But some stay and seek work in Mexico. Some Mexican employers now prefer Guatemalans to Mexican workers. (Guatemalans doing work Mexicans won't do?)

Just to put things in perspective, consider the economic differences between Mexico and most of her Central American neighbors.

Mexico's GDP per capita is $10,100 (higher than the world average of $9,300.) Here, in descending order, is the GDP per capita of each Central American nation:

Costa Rica $10,100 , Belize $6,800 Guatemala $5,200, El Salvador $5,100,

Honduras $ 2,800, Nicaragua $2,400

As you can see, except for Costa Rica, which ties with Mexico, all the others have a lower GDP per capita than Mexico.

Another useful socioeconomic barometer is the UN's Human Development Index (HDI) which takes into account life expectancy, education and adjusted real income. The list goes from #1 Norway to #177 Niger, the U.S. is #10. Mexico comes in at #53 (a better score than some eastern European countries).

Mexico's Central American neighbors, with one exception, have worse HDI scores than Mexico: Panama (56), Belize (91), El Salvador (104), Honduras (116), Guatemala (117).

Among Central American nations, only Costa Rica, at #47, scores higher.

(Isabel Lyman is a VDARE.COM friend and home school activist and her parents came from Costa Rica).

So with the exception of Costa Rica, all the Central American nations are poorer than Mexico.

There are even illegal alien flows between the Central American nations. Costa Rica has its own illegal immigration problem with illegal aliens from Nicaragua. And when I visited Belize, I met an illegal alien from El Salvador.

We always hear how Mexico is poorer than the U.S: Well, most Central American countries are poorer than Mexico. It doesn't stop Mexican authorities from detaining and deporting their citizens, does it?

What about profiling? Recently near Mexico City, police shot Mexican construction worker Robert Lugo. Because Lugo had dark skin and work clothes, the police mistook him for a Central American. (Mexican police kill man in illegals raid WorldNetDaily, April 19th, 2006

Several years ago, I wrote a VDARE.COM article about seven Mexican Indians who were mistaken for Guatemalans, imprisoned for 10 days, and almost deported to Guatemala.

Illegal alien stories regularly appear in the Mexican media. Here are a few recent ones:

  1. In Chiapas a few months back, local police were chasing Guatemalan illegal aliens. They shot an illegal and his Mexican smuggler (both lived). Fifteen illegal aliens were detained. [Balean policies a inmigrantes guatemaltecos Siglo, Feb. 13th, 2006]


  2. In a tragic accident in April, 80-85 Central American illegal aliens were riding in a truck which crashed into a trailer (both drivers and some of the illegals fled the scene). Known casualties: 9 of the illegal aliens died, 16 were wounded. [Mueren nueve indocumentados en acidente en Chiapas, 26 April 2006, Universal]


  3. A 15 year old illegal immigrant girl from El Salvador arrived to a Mexican metropolitan area and wound up working as a prostitute. Her pimps kept control of her by threatening to report her illegal status if she didn't do what they said. Finally, she was fed up with her harsh treatment and sexual abuse. She escaped and turned herself into immigration authorities. The immigration authorities imprisoned her, incommunicado, in a cell in the basement of a government building, with a man as her roommate. The press didn't discover it for two months. [Siglo – Mantienen incomunicada a una salvadoreña By Luis Alberto Morales Cortés, April 30th, 2006]

Now this ought to win some kind of award for sheer chutzpah: Bush, Fox and Canada's Harper recently met at a summit in Cancun.

Fox was both agitating for Mexican illegal aliens in the U.S. and boasting about fighting illegal immigration in Mexico:

"On our southern border, we are very active in patrolling, in construction of [immigration] stations, to stop the illegal migrants that enter Mexican territory and return them to their country, always with full respect for their human rights."

"En la frontera sur estamos muy activos en el patrullaje, en construcción de estaciones para detener a los migrantes ilegales que entran a territorio mexicano y regresarlos a su país, siempre con el pleno respeto a los derechos humanos", dijo Fox. [Privilegian la seguridad en Norteamérica Natalia Gomez Quintero y Jose Luis Ruiz Universal,  March 31st, 2006]

So why is it good if Mexico controls immigration and bad if the U.S. does?

So, while demanding rights for Mexicans illegally in U.S. territory, Mexico defends its own territory by detaining illegal aliens from countries poorer than Mexico. Many Mexican officials abuse these illegal aliens.

And yet, you don't see Central American illegal aliens marching through the streets of Mexico, demanding their "rights."

You don't see the governments of Guatemala and Honduras meddling in Mexican internal politics.

Why not?

Because they all know that Mexico wouldn't tolerate it.

But up north, Uncle Sam tolerates illegal aliens in the streets demanding legalization and constant meddling in U.S. politics by Mexican officials.

No wonder they don't respect us or our laws!

[Conan71]

With as many Central Americans which have been caught recently in INS raids, makes one wonder if Mexico is deporting them to the U.S. [B)]

[MichaelC]

You know, the Administration had a couple year there where they could have done damn near anything at the border.  Why didn't they seal it?

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelC

You know, the Administration had a couple year there where they could have done damn near anything at the border.  Why didn't they seal it?

Mexican or American administration?

This has been ignored by every President since Eisenhower.  Difference in the '50's was that a lot of migrant workers would come for harvest or planting season then return home with their "riches".

[MichaelC]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71



Mexican or American administration?

This has been ignored by every President since Eisenhower.  Difference in the '50's was that a lot of migrant workers would come for harvest or planting season then return home with their "riches".

American.  The one thing more important than anything else IMO, that we should have learned from 911:  Our inability to protect our own borders and ports is the one single thing that will allow a nuclear detonation in a US city.  If there is one, this American Administration is to blame.  He had a blank check, and now, who knows?  

This isn't the same ole migration during the days of Ike.  Not any more.

[RLitterell]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelC

You know, the Administration had a couple year there where they could have done damn near anything at the border.  Why didn't they seal it?

Same problem in Iraq. It's no suprise to me that we didn't seal the border between Iraq and Syria. We can't even seal our own.

[MichaelC]

Now, in Iraq, that's what the 350K to 500K troops that we never sent was supposed to be for.  "Securing the country and the boarders."  Instead, we thought it wise to send a skeleton crew.

Here, it's not a military issue, it's civilian.  It's a matter of legislation.  The right legislation would get that border sealed within two months.

[jdb]

"So why is it good if Mexico controls immigration and bad if the U.S. does?" - AA

Little doubt, from Honduras to the U.S., the difficult and dangerous crossings are the two Mexican borders.

But who is suggesting the U.S. not control it's border? The questions are about "How...and what of those here now?".


jdb



er, anyone besides me and some 2000 others that have been hatching a diobolical scheme to send all INS personell, Minutemen, DEA, BIA, or any law enforcement agency's along the border, on a 30 day paid hoilday to anywhere on the planet - all at the same time.

Probably start on a three day weekend too.

Everyone south comes rushing over (their going to take over anyway, right?) and so on the last day of "Border Hoilday" we ride down there and then the border is sealed. (And we don't mean kinda sealed: more like "Bodies for Buzzards".)

Given a few years, we'll have a great motorcycle road system, year round riding weather, Ocean views on either side...tons of elbow room.

Same issue though, the border has to be sealed because soon we get the BBQ, booze, and gasoline issues worked out everyone up here's gonna wanna come back over.  

First item on the fiscal agenda is to dismantel all the street signage and ship them up here - for a small fee, of course.

For more info:
www.thegreatswitcheroo.com

[cannon_fodder]

A Mexican economist was on NPR today pointing out the hypocrisy of Mexico's position.  Not only does Mexico demand fair treatment of its immigrants to the US while suppressing its own, but it does nothing to stem immigration TO the US.

The economist's main concern in all of this was that as the immigrants assimilate to the US and gain legal status, the funds flowing to Mexico (purported to be as much as 25% of Mexico's GDP) will dry up.  Resulting in sudden economic ruin for the poorest areas of Mexico.  It is in Mexico's interest in the short term to keep the immigrants on a short leash and in fear of returning so they keep sending $$$ home.

Clearly this is not in the long term interest of either nation.  Unfortunately, it is not in the long nor short term interest of the US but benefits Mexico in the short term so an accord is not in the works.  

All sorts of "ins and outs" to this thing.

[MichaelC]

I think it's a bit ironic that arguably the world's only remaining superpower refuses to control it's border, while simultaneously expecting a 3rd world country to do it for them.

Mexico may be the worst place in the world, doesn't really matter.  Their capacity to control that border is dwarfed by our own capacity.  And we do nothing but b****.

[rwarn17588]

I've come to the conclusion that Bush, despite basically having a blank check to boost U.S. security after 9/11, didn't do anything about the border because too many rich people (who are friends and bankrollers) quietly want the cheap labor coming from Mexico.

What other possible reason is there?

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

I've come to the conclusion that Bush, despite basically having a blank check to boost U.S. security after 9/11, didn't do anything about the border because too many rich people (who are friends and bankrollers) quietly want the cheap labor coming from Mexico.

What other possible reason is there?

The majority of a 535 seat legislature has allowed this to happen as well.  Funding a secure border isn't as sexy as local pet projects with constituents when it comes time for re-election.  

Why this wasn't an integral part of Homeland Security is totally beyond me as well.

Congress has squandered a ton of opportunities in other areas to fund their own pet projects and special interests.

Blaming it all on Bush and his rich buddies is overly simplistic.  Why not blame it on Clinton and buddies of his like Tyson, who just happens to employ a lot of cheap imported labor?  This border problem didn't just spring up after 9/11.  It's been an ever-growing problem since the 1970's.  There is far more blame to go around than just Bush II.

Point is, there are a lot of rich people in elected positions in Washington (both D and R) with a lot of rich friends who can reap the benefits of cheap labor.  There are also a lot of Democrats and Republicans who don't want to risk pissing off the Hispanic voters.

[rwarn17588]

Yeah, but Clinton really couldn't do jack after '94 because of a GOP-led Congress (not that I'm complaining; Washington gridlock isn't necessarily a bad thing).

[MichaelC]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

Blaming it all on Bush and his rich buddies is overly simplistic.  Why not blame it on Clinton and buddies of his like Tyson, who just happens to employ a lot of cheap imported labor?  This border problem didn't just spring up after 9/11.  It's been an ever-growing problem since the 1970's.  There is far more blame to go around than just Bush II.

You guys come on here talking about 911 changed the world so much that you had to invade Iraq.  But 911 is not a big enough factor for Bush and six years of GOP dominated congresses to get border security through.  Now it may very well be too late, and that's your answer.

I don't think any of you give a damn about security.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

Yeah, but Clinton really couldn't do jack after '94 because of a GOP-led Congress (not that I'm complaining; Washington gridlock isn't necessarily a bad thing).

You can't point a finger at one person and say it's their fault.

If one wanted operate on the theory of suspicion of Presidential relationships, walk through one of Don Tyson's plants and you'll get my point about the workforce there.  

Traditionaly, rural America has supported Democrats, as have Hispanics.  Lots of illegal immigrants work in agriculture in rural America.

Bush is supported by a bunch of defense contractors, bankers, and high-tech amongst others.  Defense contractors for one can't and don't use cheap, illegally imported labor.

This has been a pass-through problem for years and years.  I'll give the Republican-controlled congress just as much blame as previous and present Democrat-controlled Congresses (and Presidents) as well.  If it's such a glaring issue, why doesn't it seem that the Democrat-controlled Congress is doing anything about it now?  

Had Nixon, Carter, or Reagan and the Congresses of those administrations done more about border security, we wouldn't have nearly the problems we face with it now and we would have saved untold billions of dollars over the years.

I heard on the radio today that it's likely nothing will happen with immigration reform this session.  Now there's a huge surprise. [] Everyone seems to be too afraid to do anything about it.