Video of the Day: Mexican president speaks out against Arizona

Question

Today's video involves the outrage of Mexican president Felipe Calderon against legislation that was recently passed in Arizona. This law calls for police officers in Arizona to detain suspects if they appear to be illegal immigrants.

Illegal immigration has been a very controversial topic in this country for a long time. People on both sides of the issue have strong convictions and emotions about this topic.

Comment in Spanish (with the English translation). Since everyone here has a love for the Spanish language, I think it would be interesting to hear everyone's opinion's on this topic. Although the video doesn't describe the issue completely, there is a story to the left of the video that you can read for more understanding.

Please remember to check for your corrections and to vote for your favorites. Mexican president speaks out

Answer 1

Personally, I'm not taking a position on Arizona's law, but Mexico is a bit hypocritical on this. Article 67 of Mexico's own "Population Law" provides:

"Authorities, whether federal, state or municipal ... are required to demand that foreigners prove their legal presence in the country, before attending to any issues."

The Arizona law is far short of the law that Mexico enforces with respect to non-citizens within its borders. When I worked as a volunteer lawyer for the National Immigration Law Center, I cannot tell you how many horror stories I heard from Guatemalan, Salvadoran and other Central American immigrants about how they were treated by Mexican authorities.

I also find it odd that Phoenix has the second highest kidnapping rate IN THE WORLD, yet Mexico did not bother issuing an advisory over that fact.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not anti-immigran and certainly not anti-Mexican. I'm married to a Mexican-American who obtained her U.S. citizenship legally. I did volunteer legal work for the National Immigration Law Center. My Mexican wife and I go to Arizona all the time and she adamantly supports Arizona's law. She has no fear of being asked to prove that she is here legally and says that if she were stopped by law enforcement and asked to prove that she is here legally she would literally thank the officer for asking because she worked so hard, spent so much money and waited so long to do it legally.

My second issue is that Mexico is the 17th largest producer of oil, the 18th largest producer of natural gas and is blessed with countless other mineral and other natural resources. Mexico should be a wealthy country but it's government is congenitally corrupt. Did you know that of the 5000 murders in Ciudad Juarez since 2008, there have been fewer than 100 prosecutions. That number, 5000, is more than the total number of American soldiers killed in the current Iraq war since it began and through April 25, 2010.

Finally, I'm an attorney and I read the Arizona law word for word. First, all it does is say that if you have violated the current United States immigration law, you have also violated Arizona law. I'm not sure why that irritates everyone so much. All it does is allow State authorities to do exactly what border patrol agents currently do every single day.

I bet people are going to flame me for this email notwithstanding that I have done more for immigrants rights than virtually any of those who do the flaming. The fact is, there are lots of people waiting to get in. When I in line for an hour with my kids to get on a ride at Disneyland, I get angry when someone walks right up and cuts in front of me without waiting. Is there seriously anyone who does not get angry when that happens?

Now, finally, if they made me dictator, I could solve the entire illegal immigration problem in 12 months without a wall, without a border patrol and without raiding workplaces.

I'd simply pass a law that said if the IRS audits any business, if it finds that any wages were paid to undocumented workers, the business would receive no deduction as business expenses for the wages paid to the undocumented workers and would pay a fine equal to 100% of wages paid to undocumented workers. Business would make sure they knew their workers were legally here if that were the law. End of story.

Okay, my rant is done.

• No flames from me. Buen hecho. - Goyo Apr 29, 2010
• I really appreciate your point of view on this. I'm glad that you have explained a few things legally to us, that unfortunately, the press has not. As I said, this is a very emotional issue. You have given me some food for thought. - Nicole-B Apr 29, 2010
• I wish that we could be exposed more often to the view point of lawyers and others like yourself. You obviously care about the Mexican people since you are married to one have volunteered your time to help immigrants. - Nicole-B Apr 29, 2010
• I think that far too often we only hear what the politicians have to say. - Nicole-B Apr 29, 2010
• Excellent post...definitely not a "rant" - mountaingirl Apr 29, 2010
View 9 more commments >>

Answer 2

An interesting update on this thread. My wife and I were traveling to see my parents in Prescott (AZ). We were going pretty fast and were pulled over by the AZ H.P.

The Latino officer walks up and asks if I know why he pulled us over.

I said: "Because my wife is Mexican?"

He couldn't stop laughing for 2 minutes and let us go with a warning which th AZ H.P. almost never do. I know because I speed through Arizona all the time.

Answer 3

This law calls for police officers in Arizona to detain suspects if they appear to be illegal immigrants.

How can one "appear to be an illegal immigrant"? By his manner of dress? By the way he walks down the street? No, it's simply based on his race -- If you have brown skin and dark hair you are now a suspected criminal.

This law is seriously flawed in that only "appearing" a certain way will give police probable cause to detain someone.

This is racial profiling gone mad.

• I agree with you Marianne. That is why so many are outraged by this. - Nicole-B Apr 29, 2010
• Wouldn't the police need "probable cause"? Clearly that would require something more substantial than being of Hispanic background. But if the wording of the law is flawed, they should fix the wording to require reasonable probable cause.. - Goyo Apr 29, 2010
• "This law calls for police officers in Arizona to detain suspects if they appear to be illegal immigrants." Except that is not remotely close to what the law says. - ocbizlaw Dec 5, 2011

Answer 4

How can one "appear to be an illegal immigrant"? By his manner of dress?

• Very funny Ira!!!! Maybe these could be handed out at the border as a sort of "welcome to the U.S. gift". - Nicole-B Apr 29, 2010
• :) - Yeser007 Apr 29, 2010
• Jajaja!! Where can I get one of these, in case I need to travel somewhere against the law? Does it come in other languages? - CalvoViejo Apr 29, 2010
• jejejejejeje Nicole-B!! - kiersten11 Nov 30, 2011

Answer 5

Did you know that illegal immigrants in Spain have the right to:

free schooling (escoralización)

Social Security, that is free medical assistance, including operations etc (cobertura sanitaria gratuita)

free legal services (cobertura legal gratuito)

register on the electoral roll(!)

• Wow, so the word "illegal" doesn't mean anything there, either! - dogbert Apr 30, 2010
• WOW..yo no sabía. - MattM Apr 30, 2010
• Me mudo a España! - Don_José May 2, 2010
• Economic Immigration is different from Religious or Political persecution. The monetary system is a Man made system and I dont blame anyone trying to better themselves to escape Poverty and Famine in the 21st Century. - Mark-Baker May 14, 2010

Answer 6

México aconseja contra viajar a Arizona...pero esa es lo que Arizona le gustaría, ¿no?

Mexico advises against travel to Arizona...but that is what Arizona would want, right?

• I know, this is kind of ironic. - Nicole-B Apr 29, 2010
• Do not forget about all Mexican that used to cross the border for shopping at Arizona's malls.... - Mokay May 1, 2010

Answer 7

Here is the article which first caught my eye, prompting me to look for a video on this.

Friends were visiting from the Dominican Republic, so we took them on a sightseeing tour of the city. So just yesterday, I had the opportunity to stand in the very room in Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. I have been blessed to have that opportunity many times during my lifetime. However, being able to see and hear about the history through the eyes of others from another country is always revealing.

Somehow, I don't think the framers of the constitution would have approved of such a law, but that is just my opinion.

No pienso que los escritores de la constitución aprobaría esta ley.

Answer 8

Puedo entender la frustración del gobierno de Arizona. El gobierno federal no ha decargado sus deberes de proteger las fronteras de los EEUU. A la vez, creo que esta ley va a causar muchos problemas. No va a proteger la frontera, sino va a crear (o aumentar) la discriminación contra los latinos.

Presidente Calderón tiene razón en decir que mucho del éxito de los EEUU se desarrolló por las manos de los mexicanos. Castigar a mexicanos que ya viven en los estados unidos por el fracaso del gobierno federal es absurdo y una barbaridad. Bien afortunadamente, la ley no va a pasar el recurso de apelación en los tribunales.

======================================================

I can understand the frustration of the government of Arizona. The federal government has not discharged its responsibilities to protect the borders of the US. At the same the, I believe that this law is going to cause a lot of problems. It will not protect the border, but rather will create (or increase) discrimination against Latins.

President Calderón is correct in saying that much of the success of the US is built on the backs of Mexicans. Punishing Mexicans who already live in the US because of the failure of the federal government is absurd and an affront to civility. Fortunately, the law will be overturned when it is appealed to the courts.

• Did you mean borders? - Rikko Apr 29, 2010
• Thanks, Rikko. I can spell in Spanish, but apparently not in English. - CalvoViejo Apr 29, 2010

Answer 9

Hello,

The immigration problem is being wrongfully treated. If there were no jobs people wouldn't come here, and for those who say that illegal immigrants "take" jobs... Please. It is sad that a state in the great U.S., the country of "liberty" and "justice" for "all" (as long as they have papers), is passing a law that allows racial profiling, and whoever does not see that is very naive, or simply denies to accept it.

I am an immigrant, I love this country, and I guess that next time I go to Arizona I better not forget put my ID on my forehead, I would HATE to go to jail...

• Not the forehead Luisa, they'll probably just require it be pinned on your clothing:( - Yeser007 Apr 29, 2010
• Ja ja ja... Me da náusea de pensar en las familias. - LuisaGomezBa Apr 29, 2010

Answer 10

Remember the old war movies? Richard Attenborough or William Holden is slowly walking down misty, Parisian streets, the collar of his trench turned up, the brim of the fedora pulled low. A black sedan screeches around the corner and screams to a stop in front of him, before he has time to react. Soldiers bound from the car, pistols drawn, and bark “Vhere are your papers?”

When did America become this movie?

--Michael J. Kasper

• Exactly! - --Mariana-- May 4, 2010
• Yeaah Xenophobic like the Germans - Mark-Baker May 14, 2010

Answer 11

Puedo entender la frustración del gobierno de Arizona. El gobierno federal no ha decargado sus deberes de proteger las fronteras de los EEUU. A la vez, creo que esta ley va a causar muchos problemas. No va a proteger la frontera, sino va a crear (o aumentar) la discriminación contra los latinos.

Presidente Calderón tiene razón en decir que mucho del éxito de los EEUU se desarrolló por las manos de los mexicanos. Castigar a mexicanos que ya viven en los estados unidos por el fracaso del gobierno federal es absurdo y una barbaridad. Bien afortunadamente, la ley no va a pasar el recurso de apelación en los tribunales.

======================================================

I can understand the frustration of the government of Arizona. The federal government has not discharged its responsibilities to protect the boarders of the US. At the same the, I believe that this law is going to cause a lot of problems. It will not protect the boarder, but rather will create (or increase) discrimination against Latins.

President Calderón is correct in saying that much of the success of the US is built on the backs of Mexicans. Punishing Mexicans who already live in the US because of the failure of the federal government is absurd and an affront to civility. Fortunately, the law will be overturned when it is appealed to the courts.

Answer 12

Estoy contra de los inmigrantes ilegales, pero ésta es perfiles raciales y discriminación de tener reminiscencias del alemania nazi. I am against illegal immigrants but this is racial profiling and discrimination reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

• Sorry, I think that is an extreme and unfair comparison. Almost an insult to the memory of those that experienced the atrocities of the Holocaust. - LateToDinner Jul 22, 2010

Answer 13

Es muy interesante leer cómo se tratan con los imigrantes ilegales en Mexico. No creo que la ley nueva de Arizona es constitucional, pero sí creo que el gobierno de Mexico es un poco hipócrito.

Answer 14

El Gobierno de Mexico lo que deberia dde hacer es crear mas empelos para que la gente no venga. Y el Gobierno de USA deberia de sacar a lo ilegales que sean Criminales, Narcotraficantes y toda esa Basura, y darles una oportunidad a los ilegales que son trabajadores darles la oportunidad de quedarse aqui

Answer 15

Simply put, what is happening in Arizona is wrong. But these images absolutely destroy any sentiment or sympathy Americans may have regarding immigration. Myself and many members of my family are veterans. Nothing means more to us that what our flag represents. This is Montebello High in California. This is being E-mailed to millions of recipients as we speak. We've got to help the cause not hurt it.

Ponga simplemente, lo que está pasando en Arizona es un error. Pero estas imágenes destruyen absolutamente cualquier sentimiento o simpatía Americanos pueden tener con respecto a inmigración. Yo mismo y muchos miembros de mi familia son veteranos. Nada significa más para nosotros que lo que nuestra bandera representa. Esto se estando enviado por correo electrónico a millones de recipients mientras hablamos.Tenemos que ayudar la causa, no lo duela.

• Corrija mi español por favor. - MattM Apr 30, 2010