Thread: Mexico's Congress seeks support against US wall

Mexico's Congress seeks support against US wall



Mexico City.– The Mexican Congress is asking legislatures in Spain, Portugal and Latin American countries to join a coalition against a proposal by U.S. lawmakers to build some 700 miles of barriers along their nation's southern border as part of efforts to stop illegal immigration.

The request is contained in a letter drafted by the speaker of the Mexican lower house, Heliodoro Diaz.

"I hereby ask you, in an act of unity among Ibero-American Congresses, that you share our concern about and condemnation of (the U.S. wall), and that you express the deepest solidarity with the Mexican Congress, in order to impede the construction of a wall on the border of the United States of America with Mexico, and the approval of the law promoting it," says the missive, to which EFE obtained access.

On Dec. 16, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that envisions building 700 miles of fences along the border with Mexico, makes illegal immigration a crime - it is currently a civil offense - and calls for prosecuting U.S. citizens who aid undocumented migrants.

Though the measure will not be taken up by the Senate until next year and will likely face tough opposition in the upper chamber, just the prospect of its becoming law has provoked sharp criticism, not only from Mexico but from close U.S. allies such as El Salvador.

In his letter, Diaz expresses his respect for the legislative function of the United States Congress, but points out that the phenomenon of migration, for its social and economic effects, should be looked at in a comprehensive way within a bilateral framework.

"The aforesaid law, should it be approved, will result in highly negative effects for our countries, such as criminalizing migration, violating the human rights of migrants to that nation, exacerbating racism against minorities, and repudiating various agreements achieved through existing free-trade treaties," the document says.

Faced with a problem of this magnitude, said Diaz, the Standing Committee which represents Congress during recesses, approved an agreement which describes as "racist, xenophobe and in violation of human rights" the U.S. measures and indicates that he will seek the understanding of its U.S. legislators and opinion-makers to reverse the proposal.

The sending of the letter coincides with this week's visit to Washington by Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez to express in person his country's unhappiness with the bill passed by the House

http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=8703

AND, I SAY, "SO WHAT"???

With the exception of the wall every other measure that we are merely proposing now is already in place by the Mexicans against the Central Americans.

Give me a Break!