Getting Lectured on Human Rights by Mexico

Townhall.com ^ | May 21, 2010 | Mona Charen

[Kaslin]

The Obama administration is deeply embarrassed by the legislators of Arizona. Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner, in discussions with representatives from China (China!), cited the Arizona law as evidence of human rights failures in the U.S. Doubling down, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley agreed that the law could pose a "fundamental challenge to human rights around the world."

At a joint press conference with Mexico's president, Felipe Calderon, who recently described the Arizona law as "violating the human rights of all people," President Obama delivered a message to "the American people and to the Mexican people" that his administration was taking a hard look at the "troubling" law. Calderon has issued a travel advisory to Mexicans, warning them to avoid Arizona lest they be, well, what exactly? Grabbed, hooded, hustled into a dark cell and never heard from again? Um, no, asked a few questions.

You might think Obama would find a way to make that point, tactfully of course, to our Mexican guest, rather than agreeing that the law amounts to "discrimination." But no, as on so many other occasions on the world stage, Obama finds himself in general agreement with our critics. If we embarrass him, the feeling is mutual.

Is the president aware that in Mexico, police are "required to demand that foreigners prove their legal presence in the country before attending to any issues"?

While the administration was fulminating about the horrific human rights violation the Arizona law represents, Amnesty International was issuing a report about Mexico's mistreatment of its own illegal migrants. "Migrants in Mexico are facing a major human rights crisis leaving them with virtually no access to justice, fearing reprisals and deportation if they complain of abuses," said Rupert Knox, Mexico Researcher at Amnesty International. "Persistent failure by the authorities to tackle abuses carried out against irregular migrants has made their journey through Mexico one of the most dangerous in the world."

The migrants, who are usually attempting to make their way through Mexico to the United States, suffer kidnappings for ransom, robbery, and rape. Mexico's National Human Rights Commission reports that nearly 10,000 were abducted over six months in 2009. Almost 50 percent of victims said that public officials were involved in their kidnapping. _Amnesty estimates that six out of 10 migrant women and girls experience sexual violence.

It suits Democrats to treat immigration as an issue of "race" and discrimination because it permits them to frighten Hispanic Americans and secure that important voting bloc. But it's a fiction. We have an immigration problem because the U.S. is an incredibly desirable place to live and work. Immigrants continue to enrich our society, not least because they are often more appreciative of our institutions and liberties than are the native born. If it were feasible, millions of people worldwide would come here. And millions wait patiently, sometimes for decades, for the chance to do so. Democrats worry ostentatiously about the unfairness of asking people to prove their legal status. What about the unfairness of giving an advantage to line jumpers over those who abide by the law and wait their turn?

Obama proposed that "undocumented" workers be required to go to the "back of the line" before being considered for citizenship. But how could that work? Those waiting abroad for green cards frequently wait for a decade or more. Where exactly would the end of the line be?

The U.S. needs many different kinds of legal immigrants -- particularly those who are job creators. As Ben Wildavsky outlines in "The Great Brain Race," "Between 1995 and 2005, 25 percent of all American engineering and technology companies were founded by immigrants -- including half of those in Silicon Valley. Nearly one-quarter of all international patent applications filed from the United States in 2006 named foreign nationals as inventors ... While immigrants made up just 12 percent of workforce in 2000, they accounted for fully 47 percent of scientists and engineers with PhDs. (And) two-thirds of those who entered science and engineering fields between 1995 and 2006 were, yes, immigrants."

But our current immigration law makes it difficult for these Ph.D.s, trained with considerable investment from U.S. taxpayers, to remain in the United States. They are returning to their countries and taking their job-creating skills with them.

These are the sort of immigration questions that serious leaders should consider -- rather than demonizing the people of Arizona.

[Upstate NY Guy]

Calderon: "The Rape Trees are in full bloom Senor Presidente!"

Obama: "Si. Es muy bonita!"

Rape Trees

[MortMan]

You had to read a lot into this piece to say it is pro illegal alien. The job creation data (i.e.: facts, not opinion) she cited are not refutable with mere opinion.

For good or ill, the legal immigration system in this country does need some work to streamline the process while maintaining an appropriately high bar for entry.

The illegal immigration “system” is just plain criminal.

[thethirddegree]

I am praying that we retake both houses of Congress in November, impeach obama and try him for treason.He needs to go away and I’m not picky about how it happens.

[Caipirabob]

The Obama administration is deeply embarrassed by the legislators of Arizona.

For an man who has no shame, I'm glad we could help out some.

[Caipirabob]

I have a question for my FR friends, in what way shape or form is Mexico an ally of the United States? Please give me examples.

They are an excellent place to deport illegals to?

Can I has fail?

[no dems]

Hey Kas,

When you get a chance, check this out:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2517971/posts

I think President Calderon gave the GOP a winning campaign strategy for taking back both Houses of Congress on November 2.

[Kaslin]

Thanks for the link. We can take the House back and make sure to minimize the rats majority in the Senate if every conservative Republican votes in November and votes for the candidates that can win, and not a third party candidate that has no chance in winning whatsoever. Staying home in protest like some idiots did in 2006 and 2008 doesn’t help

[Ann Archy]

Notice that Pelosi had on GREEN, the Mexican Flag color!!! She NEVER wears green like that.