Thread: Mexican Congress votes to decriminalize illegal immigration

World
Mexican Congress votes to decriminalize illegal immigration
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.03.2008

MEXICO CITY — Migrant rights activists applauded a vote by Mexico's Congress to remove long-standing criminal penalties for undocumented migrants found in the country.

The measure passed unanimously in the lower house on Tuesday, a day after Senate approval. President Felipe Calderón's office declined to say whether he would sign the popular measure into law.

Mexican lawmakers saw the harsh penalties as an anachronism, and some noted that Mexico also owes migrants better treatment.
Immigrants here, mostly Central Americans trying to reach the United States, are often robbed, mistreated and subject to extortion by bandits and even police.

"It is very positive that they have removed the criminal penalties from the current law," said Karina Arias, the spokeswoman for Sin Fronteras, a Mexican group that promotes rights for migrants in Mexico. "It is a big step forward."
Current law lays out punishments of 1 1/2 to six years, while the new measure makes undocumented immigration a minor offense punishable by fines equivalent to about $475 to $2,400.

Some Mexican officials acknowledged that the current harsh penalties weakened Mexico's position in arguing for better treatment of its own migrants in the United States.
Arias said Mexico "is in a much better position" after voting for eliminating prison terms that are seldom enforced anyway. Most undocumented migrants caught in Mexico are simply deported.
Congresswoman Irma Pineiro of the small New Alliance Party said Mexico has a moral duty to protect migrants.
"Mexico is politically and morally obligated to treat migrants with dignity and to make a commitment to human rights, as a country that both exports and receives migrants," she said.

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That's encouraging, isn't it. Maybe the ones here will be more encouraged to pass thru Mexico on their way home and tell the ones headed this way, don't do it!

Dixie

Wonder if they'll treat them any differently, give them free services and such, or just shoot them the next time they see them? Think the Mexican citizens are going to welcome them all with open arms and compassion as they take their jobs away?

Originally Posted by crazybird

Think the Mexican citizens are going to welcome them all with open arms and compassion as they take their jobs away?

I really don't think they will be welcomed to stick around that long. The Mexican police will probably have the (secret) authority to swiftly escort them to their northern border for smugglers to bring them right up here to us!

They have learned from Señor Bush promises are made to be broken. They'll pretend to be lenient, to sway our government to do the same but silently "deport" them to the U.S.

Mexico is politically and morally obligated to treat migrants with dignity and to make a commitment to human rights, as a country that both exports and receives migrants," she said.

It's quite easy to take this position when your country has nothing to lose from illegal immigration. Mexico does not allow illegals to work, they do not allow them to go to school, they do not pay for their health care, they do not reward the children of illegals born on Mexican Soil with Mexican citizenship.

Mexico is not naive in this regard. They completely understand the act of entering Mexico illegally does little harm in of itself. It's when illegals can get jobs, health care, education, etc is when the problems begin as illegals are not going to stick around very long without economic opportunities. Mexico would never let this happen.

Finally, Mosty who enter Mexico illegally have no intention of remaining in Mexico, but rather are passsing through on their way to the United States.

This is nothing more than window dressing on the part of Mexico.

This is MORE than likely just ANOTHER ploy by Mexico to inveigle US into "comprehensive"--meaning "amnesty"--for HER illegals in OUR country!

So now Mexico can open the flood gates and welcome with open arms all those poor people from Central American they were just complaining about. maybe they can take all the illegals they sent here too. Nothing has changed in America.