Mexico’s law for foreign residents and workers

While Democrats are accusing President Trump about his “phony crisis” on our southern border we should note how our neighbor to the south handles foreigners in their country.

Every country has the right and responsibility to restrict the quality and quantity of foreign immigrants entering it. What makes sense to me is to have reciprocity with Mexico regarding immigrants and how they are treated. By reciprocity I mean our immigration laws should mirror theirs.

The Mexican constitution contains many provisions to protect that country from foreigners, including those legally resident in the country and even foreign-born people who have become naturalized Mexican citizens. The Mexican constitution segregates immigrants and naturalized citizens from native-born citizens by denying immigrants basic human rights enjoyed by Mexicans in the United States.

By making increasing demands on the U.S. not enforce its immigration laws and, indeed, liberalize them, Mexico is being extremely hypocritical. The Mexican constitution is very unfriendly to immigrants.

It expressly forbids non-citizens from participating in the country’s political life. Non-citizens are forbidden to participate in demonstrations or express opinions in public about domestic politics. Article 9 states, “only citizens of the Republic may do so to take part in the political affairs of the country.” Article 33 is unambiguous: “Foreigners may not in any way participate in the political affairs of the country.

Foreigners in Mexico have no property rights unless they renounce the protection of their own governments or risk confiscation. They cannot own property within 100 kilometers of land borders or 50 kilometers of the coast.

There are no equal employment rights for immigrants, even legal ones, in the public sector and Article 32 gives priority to Mexicans for all positions or commissions of the government.

The Mexican constitution guarantees that immigrants will never be treated as real Mexican citizens, even if they become legally naturalized. Article 32 bans foreigners, immigrants, even naturalized citizens in Mexico from serving as military officers, Mexican-flagged ship and airline crews and chiefs of seaports and airports. “In order to belong to the National Navy or the Air Force, and to discharge any office or commission, it is required to be a Mexican by birth. This same status is indispensable for captains, pilots, masters, engineers, mechanics, and in general, for all personnel of the crew of any vessel or airship protected by the Mexican merchant flag or insignia.”

An immigrant who becomes a naturalized Mexican citizen can be stripped of his or her Mexican citizenship if they live again in their country of origin for more than five years, under Article 37. Mexican-born citizens risk no such loss.

The Mexican constitution states that foreigners may be expelled for any reason and without due process. According to Article 33, “the Federal Executive shall have the exclusive power to compel any foreigner whose remaining he may deem inexpedient to abandon the national territory immediately and without the necessity of previous legal action.”

What should happen is the United States should adopt a policy of immigration reciprocity with Mexico and impose the same restrictions on Mexican immigrants that Mexico imposes on American immigrants.

Mexico certainly has every right to control who enters its borders and to expel foreigners who break its laws. Mexico’s internal immigration policy is its own business, however, since Mexican political leaders have been demanding the United States alter or abolish its immigration laws they have opened its own affairs to American scrutiny. The time has come for us to examine Mexico’s glass house.