Many in Congress have scrutinized Mexican President Felipe Calderon for blasting American policy on gun laws and immigration after his trip to the United States last week. Though both issues deserve a great amount of discussion and debate, the president of a borderline failing state had little authority to criticize. He may even have aided Arizona in garnering support for the legislation he intended to rebuke. In addition, he shed new insight on the federal government and the inability of Washington lawmakers to take action on illegal immigration.
In Calderon’s address to Congress, he discussed immigration as a problem facing both nations and claimed, “I am not a president who likes to see Mexicans leave for opportunities abroad.” Despite his honesty in respect to a failed immigration system, he denounced the new Arizona legislation as a law that “not only ignores a reality that cannot be erased by decree but also introduces a terrible idea using racial profiling as a basis for law enforcement.” Calderon shares a lack of resolutions with many in Congress, failing to make any strident effort to reform illegal immigration law. However, if legislators wished to make a bipartisan agreement to enforce the borders, it could easily be done. Democrats and Republicans may be reluctant to lose a voting block of 45 million Latinos living in America, according to the Census Bureau.
Although Calderon claimed the Arizona law breaches constitutional authority, the revised bill states, “a lawful stop, detention or arrest must be in the enforcement of any other law or ordinance of a county, city or town of this state.” Calderon’s legislative ignorance is exacerbated by the hypocrisy of his own country’s policy. In Mexico, illegal immigration is a felony, punishable by two years in jail. In addition the government can deport anyone not “physically or mentally healthy” or lacking the “necessary funds for their sustenance,” according to the Washington Times.
Not only was Calderon’s congressional address hypocritical, it bordered on outright insanity. Claiming to be “doing the best (his government) can do in order to reduce migration,” solutions were totally unmentioned. If immigration is the problem Calderon claims, perhaps we should adopt his own Mexican policies. Or if the federal government was truly serious, it might consider bringing home some American troops to carry out border patrol. With soldiers stationed in 140 nations and 1,000 bases around the world, political leaders cannot claim we face a shortage of resources.
In response to an issue the federal government refuses to solve, the state of Arizona took action in the only way possible through the legislative process. Despite cries of racism and racial profiling, our representatives need to make tough decisions they were elected to make. But as a government known more for its talk than its walk, public optimism is not on its side. The state of Washington may need to consider similar legislation if little continues to be accomplished.
As for Calderon, his perspective is either knowingly dishonest or blissfully ignorant, but as he mentioned himself, cooperation is important between our neighboring nations. We should continue to negotiate, trade and travel with Mexico, but we ought to respect the sovereignty of each other’s law.