We must be doing something right on immigration . . .
because Mexico is upset with us.

Hat tip, Drudge Report.

Vicente Fox is apparently peeved that Congress just passed a law barring illegal immigrants from getting driver's licenses and funding a wall in part of the U.S. -- Mexico border. He's going to lodge a diplomatic complaint and is threatening to take the issue to multinational bodies (presumably the UN or the World Court or the Organization of American States) if Mexico "could not resolve the problem bilaterally."

In other words, if the United States doesn't back down and allow Mexico to avoid serious social and economic reform by using illegal immigration to the United States to releive societal pressures rather than, say, REFORM, Mexico will pout.

Sorry, Vicente, but the problem lies with Mexico, not the United States.

The Mexican Interior Minister said "Building walls doesn't help anyone build a good neighborhood."

Oh really?

Let's talk about good neighborhoods. I live in one. It's a nice, middle-class neighborhood. We keep an eye on what's going on, we offer to help neighbors where we can, and enjoy socializing with each other.

If I ever found one of my neighbors in my kitchen grabbing a snack without my permission, I'd be irritated.

If it happened over and over, I'd get angry.

And if I found out the neighborhood association was supporting these trespassors, I'd be livid and would take what steps were necessary to stop the intrusions.

I don't see that the United States of America should behave any differently.

The 2008 elections will be a referendum on illegal immigration. Many parts of the Southwest have become inundated with illegal immigrants. True, illegal immigrants provide cheap labor -- but so what? They are still illegal immigrants.

If the United States wants to adopt new laws encouraging massive immigration at the current levels of illegals) in order to keep cheap labor, then the United States will pass such laws. Until that happens, Mexico needs to work on it's own problems -- you know, the ones that encourage the exodus of so many of it's citizens -- and stop worrying about whether the United States welcomes illegal Mexican immigrants with open arms.
- posted by MrSpkr @ 17:37