Thread: Mexico threatens lawsuits over Guard

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/ ... index.html

Mexico threatens lawsuits over Guard

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) -- Mexico warned Tuesday it would file lawsuits in U.S. courts if National Guard troops detain migrants on the border and some officials said they fear the crackdown will force illegal crossers into more perilous areas to avoid detection.

Bush announced Monday that he will send 6,000 National Guard troops to the 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) U.S.-Mexico border, but said the troops will provide intelligence and surveillance support to U.S. Border Patrol agents and will not catch and detain illegal immigrants.

"If there is a real wave of rights abuses, if we see the National Guard starting to directly participate in detaining people ... we would immediately start filing lawsuits through our consulates," Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez said in an interview with a Mexico City radio station.

Mexican officials worry the crackdown will lead to immigrant deaths. Since the U.S. toughened security at crossing spots in Texas and California in 1994, immigrants have flooded Arizona's hard-to-patrol desert and deaths have increased.

Immigrant groups estimate 500 people died trying to cross the border in 2005. The Border Patrol reported 473 deaths as of September 30.

In Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Julieta Nunez Gonzalez, the local representative of Mexico's National Immigration Institute, said Tuesday she will ask the Mexican government to send a protection force, Grupo Beta, to remote sections of the border.

Sending the National Guard "will not stop the flow of migrants. To the contrary, it will probably go up," as people try to get into the U.S. with hopes of applying for a possible amnesty program, Nunez said.

Waiting to cross in Ciudad Juarez was Juan Canche, 36, who traveled 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) to the border from the southern Mexican town of Izamal, where he had left his wife, five children and mother.

"Even with a lot of guards and soldiers in place, we have to jump that puddle," said Canche, referring to the drought-stricken Rio Grande, dividing Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, Texas. "My family is hungry and there is no work in my land. I have to risk it."

Mexican newspapers Tuesday characterized the National Guard plan as a hardening of the U.S. position, and some criticized President Vicente Fox for not taking a stronger stand, though Fox called Bush on Sunday to express his concerns.

Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar, said Tuesday that Mexico accepted Bush's statement that the Guard troops didn't imply a militarization of the area, and that Mexico remained "optimistic" that the U.S. Senate would approve an immigration reform "in the interests of both countries."

He noted Bush expressed support for the legalization of some immigrants and the implementation of a guest worker program.

"This is definitely not a militarization," said Aguilar, who also dismissed as "absolutely false" rumors that Mexico would send its own troops to the border in response.

Critics have accused Bush of using the plan to win support for immigration reform from U.S. conservatives, who are more interested in tightening border security.

Bush said it was a stopgap measure while the Border Patrol builds up its resources to more effectively secure the border.

Presidential hopeful Felipe Calderon of Fox's National Action Party issued a statement that the military presence would endanger migrants without stopping them.

"These measures have been proven mistaken. They increase the social and human costs for migrants and only benefit criminal groups that make money on the hopes and suffering of those looking for an opportunity," Calderon said.

Salvadoran President Tony Saca said he was worried that there could be an increase in abuses against immigrants because National Guard troops are trained to handle natural disasters and wars.

Along the border in Nuevo Laredo, across from Laredo, Texas, Honduran Antonio Auriel said he was determined to make it into the United States.

"Soldiers on the border? That won't stop me," he said. "I'll swim the river and jump the wall. I'm going to arrive in the United States."

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.








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Can you believe this? This is outrageous!

Well boohoo, if they don't like it, too bad!stay in mexico where you belong and you won't be sent to the clink. Start a new day, obey the law.

I think the American Citizens need to file a class action lawsuit against MEXICO!

What are they going to sue us for upholding our laws? I hope at least they use their own lawyers so we do not have to pay for that too

Salvadoran President Tony Saca said he was worried that there could be an increase in abuses against immigrants because National Guard troops are trained to handle natural disasters and wars.

Since when did these dictators become so terribly concerned about their citizens? Maybe they are afraid they won't make it and not be able to send back money?!

To: President Bush and Members of the US Congress


Each of you has taken an oath to uphold the US Constitution, and to defend America against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Your authority to govern We the People is contingent on fulfilling that solemn oath. You serve at the will of We the People; you have no other claim to power.

The American people intend to hold each of you responsible for meeting the conditions of your oath of office.

Mexico is obviously a foreign nation. Mexico is also a third-world, socialist nation, which because of corruption, greed, and incompetence, is unable to feed, educate, and provide minimal health care to its citizens.

Rather than reforming the political and economic policies that make Mexico a failure, the elitist socialists that govern Mexico have decided to "redistribute" America's wealth to 20 million peasants who have invaded America across the Mexican border.

Mexico's outrageous disregard for American borders and immigration law clearly makes that nation a "foreign enemy." The unlawful invasion by Mexican citizens, encouraged by the Mexican government, results in great harm to America's homeland security, economic and cultural stability, and the rule of law.

Again: Mexico is an ENEMY OF THE UNITED STATES. Immediate action must be taken to protect the American people from the undeclared war being waged against our interests by Mexico.

The single greatest priority in defending America is to secure the borders. If that means positioning 100,000 or so troops at the border, then so be it.

America must defend its borders against foreign invasion, including use of force if necessary.

Some immigration reform proposals in congress entertain the notion of "amnesty," called guest worker in Washington. All such proposals are unacceptable because they would simply encourage even more illegal aliens to invade America. We must not reward criminal behavior with unwise amnesty programs!

If illegal aliens are uncomfortable about living in the US as second-class citizens in the shadows, THAT IS NOT AMERICA'S CONCERN! They are here illegally and should not be made to feel good about themselves---they are criminals! They have the option and the obligation to go back to Mexico.

Bottom line: Secure our borders NOW, deport those here illegally NOW, and enforce all immigration laws NOW.

Or, start looking for new work!

Nice letter houston.

This simply disgusts me. Bush is so strong on his stance that there will not be a military force at the border that he's refusing to see that peaceful measures ARE NOT WORKING!!! Fox and all these people need to butt out of AMERICAN affairs.

F them!! Keep your lawbreakers on your side of the border.

What % of our politicians get their cocaine from Mexico? Get rid of them and we might have a chance.

Of all the unmitigated gall, can you believe it.
We should sue Mexico for all the money they've cost us.
Maybe we should put a 50% tariff on all Western Union money transfers to Mexico. How would he like that!