Thread: US Ambassador finally speaks up! (Chicago Trib) finally!!!

U.S. envoy defends tough Mexico border measures

Says Mexican critics `excessive,' off target

By Hugh Dellios
Tribune foreign correspondent
Published January 16, 2006

MEXICO CITY -- The U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Antonio Garza, issued a blunt retort last week to Mexicans' growing criticism of tougher U.S. border security measures, calling the criticism "excessive, often irresponsible and almost always inaccurate."

In a five-page New Year's statement summarizing U.S.-Mexican cooperation, Garza rejected critics' comparisons of a proposed border fence extension to the Berlin Wall and dismissed the idea that illegal immigrants have a right to seek employment in other countries.

"There is no human right to enter another country in violation of its laws," Garza wrote. "Illegal immigration is a threat to our system of laws and an affront to the millions around the world, including in Mexico, who play by the rules in seeking to come to the United States."

The letter was the first response by U.S. officials in Mexico to a crescendo of attacks on proposed security legislation passed by the U.S. House in December. The legislation would provide $2.2 billion to build 700 more miles of fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, make illegal immigration a felony and enable U.S. soldiers and police to enforce immigration laws.

President Vicente Fox has called the legislation "shameful." Mexican officials insist it would make the border more dangerous without stopping the crossing of determined immigrants who know that plenty of jobs are waiting for them on the U.S. side.

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to debate the legislation in February, along with proposals to create a guest-worker program to allow more immigrant job-seekers to enter the U.S. legally. The House legislation did not include those proposals.

In his statement, Garza, a former Texas state official and close friend of President Bush's, rejected Mexican claims that the proposed security measures reflect a growing anti-immigrant attitude among Americans. He noted that 300 million people cross the U.S.-Mexico border each year at 53 legal crossing points.

He said that last year the U.S. issued 36,000 immigrant visas, 80,000 work visas and 940,000 visitor visas to Mexicans. By contrast, he said there were 1.2million arrests of illegal entrants from Mexico.

"While no one doubts the majority of illegal immigrants from Mexico are simply looking for work or a better way of life, the sheer volume of illegal crossings offers ample opportunities for those who might have other plans," Garza wrote, referring to potential terrorists.

Garza called comparisons of the border fence to the Berlin Wall "disingenuous and intellectually dishonest" and "personally offensive to me." He noted that while the Berlin Wall was meant to keep communist East Germany's own citizens from leaving, the U.S. border fences are meant to keep illegal immigrants out.

Garza also deflected accusations that U.S. border measures result in deaths along the border, such as the shooting last month of a suspected migrant smuggler, allegedly by a U.S. Border Patrol agent, south of San Diego.

"Perhaps a greater effort by other governments to discourage their citizens from illegal crossings would help," Garza wrote, while calling for "more robust efforts" at job creation in Mexico to dissuade the illegal crossers.

The Mexican government did not immediately respond to Garza's comments, but some critics of U.S. policies did. Author and commentator Carlos Monsivais told the Jornada newspaper that the ambassador's remarks were "offensive and defamatory" and said it was "absurd" to consider Mexican immigrants a threat.

In another immigrant matter, Mexico's Federal Electoral Institute said 21,546 Mexicans outside the country had registered by Sunday's deadline to vote in July's presidential election. The overwhelming majority are in the United States.

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hdellios@tribune.com

HIGH TIME!

So I guess the only guy in Mexico who has his head screwed on straight is actually an American.

Well, I don't know WHY he FINALLY decided to say something because he has been NOTICEABLY SILENT ever since he's been our Ambassador.

I think we are all surprised, but maybe they knew if they didn't say something soon, other people would.

We still haven't heard Vicente's "reply" to this !! It should be coming soon.

I enjoy seeing him !! It just makes my day !