Best summary of Mexican law I’ve seen.
Any country on earth, if you’re a foreign visitor, you have to have your passport and ID on you at all times, and you have to produce it when asked. And you will be asked frequently by cops, hotel clerks, bank clerks, government clerks of every kind. And you’d better have it on you or you’re headed for a bad day (at least in the case of a cop).
IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOR.
IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.
IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET SHOT.
IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE JAILED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.
IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.
IF YOU CROSS THE US BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET:
* A JOB,
* A DRIVER'S LICENSE,
* SOCIAL SECURITY CARD,
* WELFARE,
* FOOD STAMPS,
* CREDIT CARDS,
* SUBSIDIZED RENT
* SUBSIDIZED LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE,
* FREE EDUCATION,
* FREE HEALTH CARE,
* A RIDE ON THE U.S. GRAVY WITH SEVERAL IDENTITIES,
* A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON,
* BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN YOUR LANGUAGE,
* THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY'S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH RESPECT,
* AND THE U.S. POLITICAL/LEGAL SYSTEM AT YOUR DISPOSAL.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A FIRM GRASP ON THE SITUATION.