History:
Lately, both legal and illegal immigrants, mainly of Mexican decent, have been protesting several proposed laws that would make entering the United States of America through illegal means, or overstaying the dates and terms of a visa, a felony.
These immigrants have stated that by making the rules that govern foreign citizens who are not in compliance a felony rather than a misdemeanor, that the inalienable human rights of these people are being compromised. Furthermore, they claim that the proponents of such changes to U.S. immigration law are racists who hate people who are of Latino decent.
What is interesting is that Mexico itself has extremely restrictive laws concerning people who were not born on Mexican soil, even if they have become naturalized citizens. An American who moves to Mexico and is granted citizenship is truly a second-class citizen for the rest of their lives. Both nations born mainly of immigrants, but with radically different laws for immigrants.
Note:
In the Mexican Constitution, foreigners are people who were not born within the borders of the United Mexican States. Naturalized citizens are also considered foreigners.
* Mexicans have priority over foreigners for all employment, positions or commissions (Article 31)
* Foreigners may not serve in the Army, police or public security forces unless drafted for purposes of war (Article 31)
* Foreigners may not in any way participate in any political affairs of the country. (Article 33)
* Foreigners may not hold an office in the federal government. (Articles 33, 55, 58, 95)
* Foreigners and first generation Mexican citizens may not hold the office of the president (Article 82)
* Foreigners may not own land within 100Km of a border or 50Km of a coast (Article 27, Federal Law)
Example:
On 2002-05-01, eighteen American citizens were participating in the May Day marches in Mexico City and Guadalajara, protesting unfair expropriation of land near Mexico City for a new airport. On 2002-05-02, Instituto Nacional de Migracion (Immigrations Mexico) revoked their travel visas and they were forcibly removed from the country.
Next Monday, tens of thousands of illegal immigrants (mainly of Mexican decent) will join in protest marches in the Phoenix area. Not only would these people also be considered criminals in Mexico, a felony in Mexico, but they would be also deported simply for interfering with the politics of a sovereign nation that is not their own. The hypocrisy is clear. Waving the flag of a blatantly racist nation, Mexican nationals are demanding from us what they would not give in return.
What is even clearer is that the spirit of article 33 of the Mexican Constitution has practical application in this nation. It is being undermined from within by people whose allegiance is closer to that of Mexico than it is of the United States of America. From local officials to federal representatives, many Mexican expatriates have little desire to enforce existing laws against people of their former homeland. Furthermore, proposals to strengthen those laws are being blocked by those same government officials who have a conflict of national allegiance.
If the United States should bring anything from Mexico, it should not be millions its citizens who flout immigration law, but rather those constitutional articles that hold foreigners accountable.
Lately, both legal and illegal immigrants, mainly of Mexican decent, have been protesting several proposed laws that would make entering the United States of America through illegal means, or overstaying the dates and terms of a visa, a felony.
These immigrants have stated that by making the rules that govern foreign citizens who are not in compliance a felony rather than a misdemeanor, that the inalienable human rights of these people are being compromised. Furthermore, they claim that the proponents of such changes to U.S. immigration law are racists who hate people who are of Latino decent.
What is interesting is that Mexico itself has extremely restrictive laws concerning people who were not born on Mexican soil, even if they have become naturalized citizens. An American who moves to Mexico and is granted citizenship is truly a second-class citizen for the rest of their lives. Both nations born mainly of immigrants, but with radically different laws for immigrants.
Note:
In the Mexican Constitution, foreigners are people who were not born within the borders of the United Mexican States. Naturalized citizens are also considered foreigners.
* Mexicans have priority over foreigners for all employment, positions or commissions (Article 31)
* Foreigners may not serve in the Army, police or public security forces unless drafted for purposes of war (Article 31)
* Foreigners may not in any way participate in any political affairs of the country. (Article 33)
* Foreigners may not hold an office in the federal government. (Articles 33, 55, 58, 95)
* Foreigners and first generation Mexican citizens may not hold the office of the president (Article 82)
* Foreigners may not own land within 100Km of a border or 50Km of a coast (Article 27, Federal Law)
Example:
On 2002-05-01, eighteen American citizens were participating in the May Day marches in Mexico City and Guadalajara, protesting unfair expropriation of land near Mexico City for a new airport. On 2002-05-02, Instituto Nacional de Migracion (Immigrations Mexico) revoked their travel visas and they were forcibly removed from the country.
Next Monday, tens of thousands of illegal immigrants (mainly of Mexican decent) will join in protest marches in the Phoenix area. Not only would these people also be considered criminals in Mexico, a felony in Mexico, but they would be also deported simply for interfering with the politics of a sovereign nation that is not their own. The hypocrisy is clear. Waving the flag of a blatantly racist nation, Mexican nationals are demanding from us what they would not give in return.
What is even clearer is that the spirit of article 33 of the Mexican Constitution has practical application in this nation. It is being undermined from within by people whose allegiance is closer to that of Mexico than it is of the United States of America. From local officials to federal representatives, many Mexican expatriates have little desire to enforce existing laws against people of their former homeland. Furthermore, proposals to strengthen those laws are being blocked by those same government officials who have a conflict of national allegiance.
If the United States should bring anything from Mexico, it should not be millions its citizens who flout immigration law, but rather those constitutional articles that hold foreigners accountable.