Posted on 12/20/2005 1:16:02 PM PST by conservativegirl
MEXICO CITY - The Mexican government, angered by a U.S. proposal to extend a wall along the border to keep out migrants, has struck back with radio ads urging Mexican workers to denounce rights violations in the United States. Facing a growing tide of anti-immigrant sentiment north of the border, the Mexican government is also hiring an American public relations firm to improve its image.
Mexican President Vicente Fox denounced the U.S. measures, passed by the House of Representatives on Friday, as "shameful" and his foreign secretary, Luis Ernesto Derbez, said Monday the wall was "stupid." ADVERTISEMENT
It's hard to underestimate the ill-feeling the proposal has generated in Mexico, where editorial pages are dominated by cartoons of Uncle Sam putting up walls bearing anti-Mexican messages.
Many Mexicans, especially those who have spent time working in the U.S., feel the proposal is a slap in the face to those who work hard and contribute to the U.S. economy.
Fernando Robledo, 42, of the western state of Zacatecas, says the proposals could stem migration and disrupt families by breaking cross- border ties.
"When people heard this, it worried everybody, because this will affect everybody in some way, and their families," Robledo said. "They were incredulous. How could they do this, propose something like this?"
Robledo, whose son and mother are U.S. citizens, predicted the measure "would unleash conflict within the United States" as small businesses fail for lack of workers.
He said many Mexicans felt betrayed by the anti-immigrant sentiment.
"We learned to believe in the United States. We have a binational life," he said of Zacatecas, a state that has been sending migrants north for more than a century. "It isn't just a feeling of rejection. It's against what we see as part of our life, our culture, our territory."
The government is scrambling to fight on two fronts. On Monday, it announced it had hired Allyn & Company, a Dallas-based public relations company to help improve Mexico's image and stem the immigration backlash.
"If people in the U.S. and Canada had an accurate view of the success of democracy, political stability and economic prosperity in Mexico, it would improve their views on specific bilateral issues like immigration and border security," Rob Allyn, president of the PR firm, told The Associated Press Tuesday.
Jose Luis Soberanes, head of the government's National Human Rights Commission, suggested Mexico go further.
"I would expect more energetic reactions from our authorities," Soberanes told local media. "It's preferable to have a more demanding government, more confrontation with the United States."
Mexico has also said it is recruiting U.S. church, community and business groups to oppose the proposal.
And the government has stepped up its defense of migrants, airing a series of radio spots here aimed at migrants returning home for the holidays.
"Had a labor accident in the United State? You have rights ... Call," reads the ad, sponsored by Mexico's Foreign Relations Department, which has helped migrants bring compensation suits in the United States.
The sense of dread connected with the measures is hardly restricted to Mexico. Immigrant advocacy and aid groups in the United States are worried about provisions of the House bill that upgrade unlawful presence in the United States from a civil offense to a felony.
"This is a sad foreshadowing," said immigrants rights activist Kathryn Rodriguez of the Derechos Humanos coalition in Tucson, Ariz. She fears the bill could expose those who help sick or dying migrants to criminal prosecution.
The House bill, passed on a 239-182 vote, would also enlist military and local law enforcement to help stop illegal entrants and require employers to verify the legal status of their workers.
Mexicans are outraged by the proposed measures, especially the extension of the border wall, which many liken to the Berlin Wall. Some are urging their government to fight it fiercely.
"Our president should oppose that wall and make them stop it, at all costs," said Martin Vazquez, 26, at the Mexico City airport as he returned from his job as a hotel worker in Las Vegas. "More than just insulting, it's terrible."
My apologies if this has already been posted. I did a search and didn't see it.
In my lifetime, we're gonna fight a war with those bastards.
****sigh****
We'll win, then we'll have to take care of 'em.
****sigh****
"especially the extension of the border wall, which many liken to the Berlin Wall."
Uhm...the Berlin wall was meant to keep people IN not OUT. Did Mexico fall to the Soviets and no one told me?
ping
"It's against what we see as part of our life, our culture, our territory."
Our territory?
LOL. And advertise the fact that they're here illegally? Oh, that takes brains.
Start building the fence.
It should be made a felony for Criminals who overstay their visas and Invaders.
I believe we should give amnesty to these poor CRIMINALS or INVADERS.
This should be a 2 week amnesty to get the heck out of our Country.
The ones who ignore this amnesty should be buried in a tent city jail and fined $10,000 or buried elsewhere.
All aiders and abettors of these CRIMINALS or INVADERS should get 1 year in a tent city jail and a $10,000 fine for each CRIMINAL aided.
Those in government should be the first ones charged.
"SHUT UP!"
Hey Martin...which President do you mean?
" "It isn't just a feeling of rejection. It's against what we see as part of our life, our culture, our territory."
That's the problem, Fernando! :(
A bunch of illegals suing for their "rights" will hasten the building of the wall like nothing else.
"Had a labor accident in the United State? You have rights ... Call," reads the ad, sponsored by Mexico's Foreign Relations Department, which has helped migrants bring compensation suits in the United States.
This statement is incredible!
"...Facing a growing tide of anti-illegal immigrant sentiment north of the border..."
The country of Mexico, so POed that the United States is thinking of building a fence to stop illegals from moving from Mexico into the United States has struck first in a hissy fit.
Mexico's President Fox announced today that Mexico will beat the United States and build their own fence to keep Americans out of Mexico, before the US can build it's fence to keep illegals out. Fox stated that he intended to keep those dollar spenders out of Tijuana where most Americans go seeking wild women and cheap booze with a worm in it.
Fox also announced that he also would ask all illegals to quit going into the US, thus stopping the cheap labor market that the US relies upon so much. Fox said that this would cause a huge jump in prices thus angering all Americans and having a backlash at the US attempts to prevent illegals from coming into the US. Developing . . . .
I cant wait to see what happens when any solid anti-illegal immigration bill hits GWB's desk.
Let me get this straight... We can't build a wall on OUR side of the border? I didn't realize that we were the United States of Mexico. We are not anti-Mexican. We are anti-illegal alien.
How is Fox going to retaliate, hold tunnel digging classes on his side of the border? Watch out for the Mexican pole vaulting team at the next summer Olympics.
My gosh, just have your people get the proper work authorization and the problem is solved.
They're going to create a comic book to help Mexicans cross the border illegally, destroy property and become involved in violent crimes against Americans.
Hey! Wait a minute...
Allyn & Company Main Office*
3232 McKinney Avenue, Suite 660
Dallas, Texas 75204
Phone: (214) 871-7723
Fax: (214) 871-7767
info@allynco.com
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