Analyst: 'No Stomach' for Enforcing Immigration Laws Emboldens Mexico
by Chad Groening and Jim Brown
January 8, 2007
(AgapePress) - - A Washington, DC-based immigration think tank says no one should be surprised by a recent report that Mexican authorities will soon be issuing satellite tracking devices to illegal aliens seeking to enter the U.S.In 2005, immigration reform advocates claimed that illegal aliens crossing into the U.S. from Mexico had been caught with comic books and videos -- produced and distributed by the Mexican government -- that described how to sneak into the United States and remain safe once they are there. Now Mexican citizens planning to enter the U.S. illegally will be given high-tech satellite tracking devices to ensure that they arrive safely at their destination. Authorities in Mexico predict that about 20,000 devices will be handed out when the project is formally launched later this year.
John Keeley with the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) says there is plenty of blame to go around for the boldness of the Mexican government. It is justifiable to "devote a lot of energy to condemning the Mexican government for it," says Keeley, "but I think there's a role here, too, for outrage at our State Department and the Bush administration.
"Mexico is doing this -- and then Mexican states are doing what they're doing -- because they're receiving no disincentive, no push-back from the American government," which he says should be reminding Mexico about respecting America's sovereignty.
The CIS spokesman says because of the way the U.S. government has handled the issue of illegal immigration, American citizens should not be at all surprised by the Mexican government's actions.
"They're just turning a blind eye to it because we don't have the much-needed political leadership on this issue that we desperately need in these crises conditions," Keeley explains. He claims that the Bush administration has demonstrated over the last six years that it has "no stomach for enforcing immigration laws" -- and consequently, "we shouldn't be surprised at these kinds of stories."
And because the example on how to deal with the issue "begins at the top," he says, "... we need to hold our government leaders accountable ... but at this point nobody should be surprised."
A Perfect Example?
Meanwhile, the top Republican in the U.S. Senate is showing willingness to support legislation in the new Congress that would grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants.
Last year Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell was among a group of 62 senators who voted for an immigration bill that would allow those immigrants to permanently take American jobs and become U.S. citizens. Now the new Senate minority leader is indicating that he is likely to support a similar plan reportedly being discussed by President Bush and the Democrats.
"From my point of view, as long as there's work to be done and [there are] Americans unavailable to do it, there's nothing wrong with having a guest worker here quite a lengthy period of time," says McConnell, explaining his rationale. "In my state you can't get the crops in, frankly, without guest workers. Those people need to be here legally. And that program can be greatly increased.
"But that doesn't have anything to do with ultimately becoming a citizen," he continues. "Somewhere in all of these is a comprehensive bill, and I think we'd be better off to pass the right kind of comprehensive bill than to do nothing."
Analysts also say such a "comprehensive immigration reform" bill will win the support of Florida Senator Mel Martinez, the man President Bush tapped to head the Republican National Committee.
Chad Groening and Jim Brown, regular contributors to AgapePress, are reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
