Interesting story in the statesman yesterday


John Savage
Edition Date: 05-03-2006

The demonstrations against the immigration reforms being debated by our Congress seem to boil down to a few issues. Foremost is illegals be given citizenship, followed by not being classified as felons under a proposed law and not building a wall on our southern border. Charges of racism were also a recurring theme. Additionally, Mexico has been pushing for an open border and not placing our military on the border.

I wondered about how Mexico addresses the issue of illegal immigration and control of their border. I found a Web site that has translated the Mexican constitution into English and another that has highlighted those potions dealing with the question. I was surprised by the approach Mexico has taken.

Mexico classifies all illegal immigrants as felons. It posts military on both borders to prevent people from sneaking into the country. Mexicans also have a law making leaving the country, except at specified ports of exit, a federal crime. At last count, slightly over 10 percent of Mexican citizens reside in the USA. Perhaps the United States should help Mexico enforce its law.

Visitors and immigrants who are granted visas to live in Mexico are not allowed to demonstrate or voice their opinions in public regarding Mexican policies. Those with resident visas are subject to immediate deportation for any reason, without due process of any sort. A naturalized citizen does not have the same rights as other citizens. They cannot hold office of any kind, be a member of the clergy, become a member of the armed forces or police. By law, they are second-class citizens.

The Mexican constitution denies equal employment rights to immigrants, even legal ones, in the public sector. Native Mexican citizens have the right to arrest anyone they feel are illegal immigrants and turn them over to authorities. Just imagine if the Minutemen did that.

In a recent Zogby poll, 73 percent of Mexicans call Americans "racist." However, Mexico imported the largest number of slaves of any country in the New World. To this day, racism is widespread. In some states, school districts will not even educate the children, declaring them uneducatable. No one knows just how many black Mexicans there are as their census does not recognize them.

One of our greatest presidents, Teddy Roosevelt, was a strong advocate of controlling immigration, protecting the American values and citizenship, mirroring Mexico's approach somewhat. "Americanization" was a favorite theme of Roosevelt's during his later years, when he railed repeatedly against "hyphenated Americans" and the prospect of a nation "brought to ruins" by a "tangle of squabbling nationalities." In a statement to the Kansas City Star in 1918, he said, "every immigrant who comes here should be required within five years to learn English or to leave the country," and "English should be the only language taught or used in the public schools."

He also insisted that America has no room for what he called "50-50 allegiance." In a speech made in 1917, he said, "It is our boast that we admit the immigrant to full fellowship and equality with the native-born. In return, we demand that he shall share our undivided allegiance to the one flag."

Perhaps Mexico should amend its constitution to guarantee immigrants to Mexico the same rights it demands the United States give to immigrants from Mexico; or the United States should impose the same restrictions on Mexican immigrants that Mexico imposes on its immigrants.

John Savage is a retired international businessman and local business owner. He may be reached at: jsavage@usa.com