Thursday, August 21, 2014

Is Mexico Friend or Foe?


As a neighbor just to our south and a very important trading partner, some have said that instead of being our faithful friend, they act more like our enemy.

Over the years, I have spent many a vacation at some of the many vacation spots that Mexico has to offer. They have beautiful beaches, luxurious hotels, and generally friendly people, but the actions of it's government towards the United States leaves a lot to be desired.

For years now, we have had a steady influx of “illegals” crossing our borders without proper papers. Where has the Mexican government been to help stop the flow of “illegals” coming into our country from Mexico? It seems like the Mexican government is in collusion with many of the poor and poorly educated Mexican citizens. It's almost like they have been exporting their social problems to our country and then complain that we complain about the people violating our immigration laws. It has been estimated that between 12 – 15 million Mexican nationals have taken up residence in our country over the past 30 years. Besides the Mexicans coming in over our borders, there have been millions more of other people from other countries who have used Mexico as a “way station” to enter our country illegally.

It is ironic that Mexico, which has a very strict immigration policy for foreign people trying to take up residence in Mexico without papers, would turn a blind eye or even encourage their own people and people of other countries, to violate our “lax” immigration laws.

Just recently, we've had an avalanche of illegals pouring into our country from other Central American countries, namely Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, who have made the arduous trip through Mexico practically unimpeded (a journey of approx. 1,500 miles from Mexico's southern border). The question arises, how could the 60,000 – 100,000 people go through Mexico without the knowledge of the Mexican authorities? We all know that corruption is rampant in Mexico, but that doesn't seem to motivate the Mexican government to stop this flow of low educated, poor, sometimes unhealthy children and gang members from moving through Mexico to our border. Their indifference, about this matter, is a crime in and of itself.

Additionally, the Mexican authorities have been holding an American Marine veteran in custody under dubious circumstances and charges since last March. Besides Mexico not doing much to free our citizen soldier, they have been making him jump through hoops to try to get justice by the Mexican court system. Is that how a “friend” is supposed to act? Unfortunately, or leaders, Obama and Kerry have not exerted their influence to get him released. Shame on them.

So, my conclusion is that with friends like Mexico, we don't need enemies, and I will put off any future travel to Mexico until they act like a friend of the United States like any friendly country should act. They, for the reasons listed above, are not a friend and, therefore, should be considered a foe,

Conservative commentary by Chuck Lehmann




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1 comment:

Don Wildner said...

Why don't we adopt the the immigration laws that Mexico has? Too strict? Well, isn't it the height of hypocrisy for Mexico to encourage their poor to migrate to the U.S. illegally, and then complain that we are not good neighbors if we protest this invasion? I, along with Chuck, will not visit Mexico as long as they continue their indifference toward the illegal immigration of their people and others to cross our borders illegally. Maybe then they will get the message that enough is enough?