Prior to 2008, undocumented immigration into Mexico was considered a criminal offense punishable by up to two years in prison. It has since been decriminalized. However, Article 67 of Mexico’s Population Law still reads, “Authorities, whether federal, state or municipal … are required to demand that foreigners prove their legal presence in the country, before attending to any issues.” Hmmm, not unlike Arizona’s S.B. 1070 except in Arizona there must be a reason beyond simple suspicion of illegal presence for authorities to pose the question.
In Mexico, undocumented immigration is now a minor offense punishable by fines equivalent to about $475 to $2,400. Though there is no judge to sentence jail time, detention in the proverbial Mexican jail still occurs until the fine is paid. Personal checks not accepted.
Given the above facts, how is it that President Felipe Calderon can lecture the U.S. Congress on how unfair the Arizona law is to law breakers? Why would congress even waste the taxpayers’ time listening?
President Obama, after being harangued about the illegal immigration problem along our Southwestern states has ordered National Guard troops to the area. He is so committed to stemming the flow that he is sending 20% of the number G.W. Bush deployed on a temporary basis in 2006. Mexico’s President Calderon objects to the use of troops to defend against the intruders, even though his country does the same to guard their borders.
The Guard troops sent by Bush could not stop, detain or arrest human or drug smugglers. They’re positioning was to observe and direct border patrol to areas of activity. That was when the invaders were more lightly and less frequently armed. Today, the smugglers shoot to kill land owners and innocent civilians encountered along their trails and passes. They use military style automatic weapons, often on full auto to express command.
Even in the war zone of Afghanistan, our soldiers must hold their fire and demonstrate “courageous restraint” in battle. They can even receive a medal for not acting in a war-like fashion. Just what will be the restraints on the 1,200 National Guard troops now? We don’t know, and probably don’t want to know, how this administration is planning their military cutbacks and population control. The drug cartels will consider these troops as targets used for old ammunition expenditure or dialing in their scopes.
At the same time, a team of Justice Department attorneys is mounting a challenge to the Arizona state law. The draft complaint says that the Arizona enforcement impedes federal law. Arizona insists that it assists federal law.
John Morton, assistant secretary of homeland security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly said his agency will not necessarily process illegal immigrants referred to them by Arizona authorities. It’s as if he said, “We aren’t doing the job for which we’re being paid and we’re still getting paid. What makes you think we might help you do our job, Arizona?”
In another border state:
According to a security expert who reportedly saw a memo, the Department of Homeland Insecurity issued a BOLO for a suspected member of the Somalia-based Al Shabaab terrorist group who might be attempting to travel to the U.S. through Mexico and Texas. This memo came after the indictment, of a Somali man in Texas accused of running a “large-scale smuggling enterprise” responsible for bringing hundreds of Somalis from Brazil through South America and eventually across the Mexican border, was recently unsealed.
Obama continues to ignore pleas from Texas (Bush 41 & 43 home state) for more security along the Mexican border.
Do you feel safe now?
