The hypocrisy of Mexican President Calderon was in full display this week during his visit to the United States. He stood in the White House and lectured the State of Arizona on their immigration law then went to Congress and criticized the policy once more to a standing ovation by the Democrats in attendance. Then in an interview with CNN Wolf Blitzer (above) he was forced to admit that their own laws are pretty much the same if not more strict:
Wolf Blitzer questioned Calderon quoting the Washington Times:
"Under the Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison. Immigrants who are deported and attempt to re-enter can be imprisoned for 10 years. Visa violators can be sentenced to six year terms. Mexicans who help illegal immigrants are considered criminals."
Blitzer: "Is that true?"
Calderon: "It was true, but it is not anymore – since one year ago."
Blitzer: “Then people from Central America can just walk in to Mexico?”
Calderon: "No. They need to fulfill a form. They need to establish their right name. We analyze if they have a criminal precedent."
Blitzer: "Do Mexican police go around asking for papers of people they suspect are illegal immigrants?"
Calderon: "Of course. Of course, in the border, we are asking the people, who are you?"
Blitzer: “…then people who sneak into Mexico can get a job and go to work?”
Calderon: "No, no. If … if somebody do that without permission, we send back … we send them back."
So there you have it. Calderon’s Mexico responds to illegals entering their country much in the same way that Arizona would like to. Actually it is much worse than Calderon stated. The Mexican Army protects their southern border and more often than not fires upon those trying to sneak in.
Also, once in the country, immigrants cannot receive any benefits from the government including health care, or even school or education for their children. There are no bi-lingual classes for non-Spanish speaking visitors, all government business is conducted in Spanish, there is no track towards citizenship, and foreigners can never buy property, vote, or become involved in the political process of Mexico.
Yet President Calderon would lecture us on civil rights in our country!
Response: Regardless of what you think about the Arizona Immigration law, it is the height of hypocrisy for the Mexican President to lecture us on our own turf and our own democratically devised laws to cope with the crisis on the border caused by his own government’s failure to provide their own people with jobs and a secure future.
Fact is, Mexico continues to treat illegal aliens from Central and South America far worse than we ever have in this country.